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Table 1 Comparison of ED and inpatient care settings [6]

From: Development of an observational instrument to determine variations in the patient care process and patient flow among emergency physicians and internists at the emergency department

Emergency department

Inpatients wards

Low moderate and high urgency

Low and moderate urgency

Undifferentiated patient

Admitted Patients

Approach directed on complaint

Approach directed on preliminary diagnosis

Diagnostic tests ordered are of moderate or high urgency

Diagnostic tests ordered are of low, moderate or high urgency

Results of diagnostic tests available within minutes to hours

Results of diagnostic tests available within hours to days

Patient evaluations of several patients

Patient evaluations are scheduled

Parallel evaluations of several patients

Evalauation of one patient at a time