A demographic audit of a provincial New Zealand emergency department (ED) revealed a significantly shorter ED length of stay (LOS) among Māori versus European patients (mean LOS, 266.8 mins vs 315.9 mins, respectively), despite Māori having poorer health outcomes overall. The study researchers therefore sought to determine drivers of LOS in this ED. They reviewed 80,714 electronic medical records of ED patients from 1 December 2012 to 1 December 2014. In a stepwise regression procedure that accounted for patient factors of age, gender and deprivation score, ethnicity had no statistically significant effect on LOS. Māori were, on average, younger, less likely to receive bloodwork and radiographs, less likely to go to the ED observation area, less likely to have a GP, and more likely to be discharged and to self-discharge; all of these factors decreased their length of stay.
