Study objectives 

To determine why emergency department patients leave without being seen by a physician and whether they receive alternate medical care.

Design 

A prospective, cross-sectional study of patients who left without being seen.

Charts were reviewed for population demographics, presenting complaints, and clinical acuity rating.

Follow-up was achieved within 6 weeks through mailed surveV questionnaires and telephone interviews.

Setting 

Two inner-city EDs of the Toronto Hospital, a quaternary care facility.

Participants 

All 423 patients who registered for care and left without being seen during a 16-week period from January to May 1991.

Results 

Of 23,933 registered patients, 423 (1.4%) left without being seen.

Follow-up was achieved on 39% of patients (165 of 423).