To the Editor: The Journal took a significant step forward in publishing the three articles on access block in the 6 April 2009 issue.1-4 Walters and Dawson’s viewpoint article,4 in a later issue, touches on some ideas that will be useful in finding solutions to access block — ideas that some hospitals are implementing. However, I am not sure a microsolution aimed purely at acute medical patients can be called a whole-of-hospital revolution.
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- Nepean Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
- 1. Fatovich DM, Hughes G, McCarthy SM. Access block: it’s all about available beds. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 362-363. <MJA full text>
- 2. Cameron PA, Joseph AP, McCarthy SM. Access block can be managed. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 364-368. <MJA full text>
- 3. Richardson DB, Mountain D. Myths versus facts in emergency department overcrowding and hospital access block. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 369-374. <MJA full text>
- 4. Walters EH, Dawson DJ. Whole-of-hospital response to admission access block: the need for a clinical revolution. Med J Aust 2009; 191: 561-563. <MJA full text>