Observation of Care Units: An Essential of Emergency Departments

Contemporary observation care units / rapid treatment centers (OCUs/RTCs), either contained within the emergency department or closely associated with emergency/acute care in a given system, have evolved in an effort to optimize the quality and efficiency of health care delivery. This study was initiated to develop a data base on current attitudes about OCUs/RTCs in the health care industry. The subsequent interpretation and analysis of these data provided insight into the development of recommendations to guide a health care institution in considering the planning of an OCU/RTC. The goal of the study was to develop a planning model that may be used by emergency department directors, administrators, facility planners, and architects.