Characterization and economic impact of medical patients presenting at the emergency department of an university hospital

Background: The number of patients in German emergency departments has been rising for years. This means additional need of staff and infrastructure for hospitals. Methods: In this monocentric retrospective analysis the patient population of the central emergency department (ZNA) at the university hospital Frankfurt was investigated. Major symptoms, diagnoses with respect to diagnose-related groups and modes of admission to the emergency department have been analyzed. Results: During 3 months, a total of 7376 patients presented to the ZNA. Analysis focused on 2186 patients referred to the department of internal medicine: most patients presented spontaneously (50.6%), 38.2% were admitted by ambulance services, only 9.7% were admitted by a primary physician. 44.9% of these patients were hospitalized, mainly with cardiological, pneumological and gastroenterological disorders. The predominant major symptoms were acute chest pain (15.4%), abdominal pain (7.1%) and syncope or collapse (6.1%). Patients hospitalized via ZNA contributed 31.9% of the total revenues of internal medicine departments. 31.7% of all hospitalized patients were admitted to the hospital by the ZNA. Conclusion: Emergency departments become more and more a regular part of ambulatory patients health care and contribute efficiently to the economic revenue of hospitals.