Characteristics and outcomes of emergency department presentations brought in by police with and without an emergency examination authority: A state-wide cohort study

Julia Alcock; Julia Crilly Oam; Jamie Ranse; Rachel Wardrop

doi:10.1016/j.auec.2024.02.001

Characteristics and outcomes of emergency department presentations brought in by police with and without an emergency examination authority: A state-wide cohort study

Australas Emerg Care. 2024 Mar 9:S2588-994X(24)00019-8. doi: 10.1016/j.auec.2024.02.001. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Julia Alcock¹, Julia Crilly Oam², Jamie Ranse³, Rachel Wardrop⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD 4222, Australia. Electronic address: j.alcock@griffith.edu.au.
² School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD 4222, Australia; Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD, 4222, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, 1 Hospital Blvd, Southport QLD 4215, Australia; Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD 4222, Australia.
³ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD 4222, Australia; Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD, 4222, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, 1 Hospital Blvd, Southport QLD 4215, Australia.
⁴ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD 4222, Australia; Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport QLD, 4222, Australia.

PMID: 38462438
DOI: 10.1016/j.auec.2024.02.001

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and patient and health service outcomes of emergency department (ED) presentations brought in by police with and without an emergency examination authority.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of adult (≥ 18 years old) presentations brought in by police to EDs in Queensland, Australia from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2020. Routinely collected ED data were used to describe and compare the demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of people brought in by police with and without an emergency examination authority.

Results: A total of 42 502 adult ED presentations were brought in by police over the three-year period, of which 22 981 (44.7%) had an emergency examination authority. Compared with presentations brought in by police without an emergency examination authority, those brought in by police with an emergency examination authority had a higher proportion of presentations for mental health problems, were from major cities, and were allocated more urgent Australasian Triage Scale categories. Presentations brought in by police with an emergency examination authority were less likely to be seen within their Australasian Triage Scale timeframe and experienced a longer length of stay than those brought in by police without an emergency examination authority whether admitted (217 mins vs. 186 mins, p < 0.001) or discharged (212 mins vs. 97 mins, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The characteristics and outcomes of people brought in by police with emergency examination authorities differed to those brought in by police without emergency examination authorities. Further research is required to enhance understanding of this relatively unexplored group of people and foster interagency collaborations.

Keywords: Cohort study; Emergency departments; Involuntary assessment; Outcomes; Police.