Evaluation of the Quality of Care in the Emergency Department by Studying the Appropriateness of Hospitalizations: Validation of an Algorithm Based on Computerized Hospital Databases

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to develop, study, and validate a reliable method to assess whether hospital admission decisions made in the Emergency Department are appropriate. The study focuses on patients presenting with non-specific symptoms related to the lungs, heart, or abdomen, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, or abdominal pain. By evaluating these decisions, the study seeks to improve the quality of care in emergency settings. The study uses information routinely recorded in Emergency Department medical records along with clinical and administrative databases. It includes all patients aged 18 and over who arrive at participating centers between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024. The study will validate and refine a classification algorithm through several phases from August 2025 to June 2027, ultimately applying the algorithm to eligible patients to assess the appropriateness of hospital discharges. Participants' data will be analyzed using computerized hospital databases without the need for extra interventions. Researchers will monitor and refine the algorithm's performance over time, including qualitative and quantitative validation phases. The study spans from initial data collection through algorithm application and feasibility assessment, lasting until June 2027, with no direct treatment or follow-up required from participants during this observational process.

Evaluation of the Quality of Care in the Emergency Department by Studying the Appropriateness of Hospitalizations