ArticlePediatric quality & safety
Reducing Pediatric ED Length of Stay by Reducing Diagnostic Testing: A Discrete Event Simulation Model.
Article in Pediatric quality & safety. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Key performance indicators in emergency department simulation: a scoping review.Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine · 2025Article
- Discrete-Event Simulation Modeling in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Review
- Under-triage: A New Trigger to Drive Quality Improvement in the Emergency Department.Pediatric quality & safetyArticle
- Let us to the TWISST; Plan, Simulate, Study and Act.Pediatric quality & safetyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Quality improvement efforts can require significant investment before the system impact of those efforts can be evaluated. We used discrete event simulation (DES) modeling to test the theoretical impact of a proposed initiative to reduce diagnostic testing for low-acuity pediatric emergency department (ED) patients.
methodsWe modified an existing DES model, built at another large, urban, academic pediatric ED, to forecast the impact of reducing diagnostic testing rates on mean ED length of stay (LOS). The modified model included local testing rates for Emergency Severity Index (ESI) 4 and 5 patients and additional processes defined by local experts. Validation was performed by comparing model output predictions of mean LOS and wait times to actual site-specific data. We determined the goal reduction in diagnostic testing rates using the Achievable Benchmark of Care methodology. Model output mean LOS and wait times, with testing set at benchmark rates, were compared to outputs with testing set at current levels.
resultsDuring validation testing, model output metrics approximated actual clinical data with no statistically significant differences. Compared to model outputs with current testing rates, the mean LOS with testing set at an achievable benchmark was significantly shorter for ESI 4 (difference 19.1 mins [95% confidence interval 12.2, 26.0]) patients.
conclusionA DES model predicted a statistically significant decrease in mean LOS for ESI 4 pediatric ED patients if diagnostic testing is performed at an achievable benchmark rate compared to current rates. DES shows promise as a tool to evaluate the impact of a QI initiative before implementation.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.