In reply: A recent report on the state of Australian public hospitals highlights figures of 320.6 emergency presentations per 1000 weighted population, with 88% of presentations being triage categories 1–4, and 66% of patients not admitted.1 In our experience, pathology tests are performed on more than 50% of patients in these triage categories who present to emergency departments, and decisions regarding patient care are delayed pending availability of test results. In addition to the initiatives that we described,2 Georgiou and Westbrook describe other initiatives that deliver significant, sustained improvements in health care efficiency.
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- The Prince Charles Hospital Laboratory Group, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.
- 1. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The state of our public hospitals: June 2009 report. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2009. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/1186FF4200B2B2E6CA257 5D9000F73B8/$File/SoOPH%202009.pdf (accessed Jul 2009).
- 2. Francis AJ, Ray MJ, Marshall MC. Pathology processes and emergency department length of stay: the impact of change. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 665-669. <MJA full text>
- 3. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Discussion paper on achieving the directions established in the proposed National Safety and Quality Framework. Sydney: ACSQHC, 2009. http://www.qualityhealthcareconversation.org.au/uploads/36707/ufiles/downloads/discussion-paper-on-safety-and-quality-framework.pdf (accessed Jul 2009).
- 4. Australian Government Productivity Commission. Performance of public and private hospital systems: Productivity Commission issues paper. Melbourne: Productivity Commission, 2009. http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/89959/issues-paper.pdf (accessed Jul 2009).