An Emergency Department Short Stay Unit (SSU) is a unit managed by and attached to the Emergency Department (ED) and whose prime orientation is to manage acute problems for patients with an expected combined ED and ED SSU length of stay of greater than 4 hours, but less than 24 hours.
Creating a Short Stay Unit (SSU) in Emergency Department
Initiative Type
Model of Care
Status
Deliver
Added
19 July 2017
Last updated
15 March 2022
Summary
Key dates
Jul 2016
Implementation sites
Queensland Health Emergency Departments
Aim
Emergency Department Short Stay Units are designated and designed for the short term treatment, observation, assessment and reassessment of patients initially triaged and assessed in the Emergency Department.
Benefits
- Reduce patient length of stay within the Emergency Department
- Reduce the number of patients who ‘did not wait’
- Improve clinical outcomes
- Increase emergency department turnover
Background
SSUs are designated and designed for the short term treatment, observation, assessment and reassessment of patients initially triaged and assessed in the Emergency Department.