Objective: Dengue fever is endemic in Malaysia and poses a significant problem to the national health system. Because of its nonspecific clinical features, it creates clinical and administrative uncertainties. We evaluated the role of an emergency department short-stay ward (EDSSW) in the management of dengue fever in the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC).
Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on suspected dengue patients who were admitted to UKMMC EDSSW, between January and March 2010. Data were retrieved from the EDSSW Monthly Census Book and patients' medical records. Patients were categorized as follows: group 1, which included patients who received treatment in the EDSSW only, and group 2, which included patients who received initial treatment in EDSSW and were subsequently admitted to the inpatient (IP) wards.
Results: A total of 147 patients' records were available. The total length of stay was 32.2 h in group 1 and 100.5 h in group 2. For group 2 patients, a median of 21.8 h was spent in EDSSW and 78.8 h was spent in IP. All patients in group 1 and group 2 were discharged well. The total EDSSW stay was 4309 patient-hours; IP stay totalled 5137 patient-hours. The use of the EDSSW reduced the IP burden in managing dengue by 45.6%.
Conclusion: EDSSW limit the number and burden of dengue patients requiring formal IP admissions while acting as a 'safety net' for inappropriate discharges and unnecessary admissions.