As patient demand for emergency room services continues to grow, the need to streamline care is becoming an increasingly urgent problem for California hospitals. One technological approach is the adoption of an Emergency Department Information System (EDIS), also known as ED tracking, which allows hospitals to "time stamp" a patient's movement in the emergency room and compile a record of care from the moment of arrival.

The California HealthCare Foundation commissioned a survey of California hospitals and their emergency departments to measure the proliferation of ED tracking systems. The research focused on determining which features are being used by EDs and what barriers hospitals encounter in acquiring and using these systems. Additionally, the researchers looked for positive outcomes and best practices from the adoption of an EDIS.

This issue brief presents the results from the survey and provides a side-by-side comparison of some of the most common EDIS and hospital tracking systems. It finds that most hospitals are taking advantage of the technology; however, they are doing so with varying levels of satisfaction and success.

The complete issue brief is available under Document Downloads.