Use of Algorithm for Safer and More Efficient Decision Making in the ED

Background Crowding and readmissions are common challenges in Emergency departments across Europe. The decision whether to admit or discharge the patient is challenging and is often based on clinical signs and symptoms e.g. blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and temperature. But some patients are unnecessarily admitted and may have been better off if sent home. Other patients may be discharged without - and one out of five patients are readmitted within a month raising the question whether the patient should have been admitted at first presentation in the ED. suPAR is a strong prognostic biomarker measured routinely in acute medical patients in some emergency department (ED) settings.suPAR is a broadly applicable biomarker of risk, and it has been developed an algorithm for simple interpretation of suPAR in clinical decisions for the study.

Objective To evaluate the use of a clinical decision algorithm in the ED with the aim of improving discharge or admission decisions.