Impact of Overload on Emergency Medicine Department during Festive Season in a Tertiary Care Centre in North India: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: The festive season in North India presents a unique challenge for emergency medicine departments, with a surge in critical patients and outpatients. This systematic review aims to comprehensively examine the impact of festive season overload on a tertiary care center's emergency medicine department, providing insights into the nature and extent of this phenomenon.

Aims: This study assesses the festive season's impact on emergency department visits, evaluating patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and the strain on resources and staff workload during critical patient admissions and outpatient visits.

Methodology: The study, using Bullion Words, identified 830 articles from 1350 hits. After analysis and addressing quality concerns, 22 papers were selected for the systematic review on festive season overload in North Indian Emergency Medicine Departments. The upcoming review will employ a comprehensive search strategy, targeting key databases, with ethical considerations prioritized for transparency on platforms like PROSPERO. This framework aims to provide valuable insights for healthcare practitioners and policymakers.

Results: The systematic review underscores the critical need for proactive measures in North India's Emergency Medicine Department during festive seasons. Recommendations include implementing strategic resource allocation, enhancing staff preparedness through contingency plans, increased staffing levels, and targeted training programs to efficiently manage the unique challenges posed by festive season emergencies.

Conclusion: The synthesis of evidence underscores the substantial impact of festive season overload on North India's Emergency Medicine Department. Findings reveal variations in patient presentation, increased demand for resources, and challenges in staff workload. This contributes valuable insights, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies and enriching evidence-based decision-making in emergency medical services.