Emergency department overcrowding and mortality after the introduction of the 4-hour rule in Western Australia

Geelhoed, Gary C; de Klerk, Nicholas H

doi:10.5694/mja12.10548

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In reply: We thank Mitra and Cameron, and Toh and colleagues for their remarks. Comments from some physicians that the 4-hour rule might increase mortality provided the initial stimulus for us to look at data related to its introduction in Western Australia. Given our results, their hypothesis seems unlikely to be true.

1 Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA.
2 Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth, WA.

Correspondence: gary.geelhoed@health.wa.gov.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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