Contact networks in the emergency department: Effects of time, environment, patient characteristics, and staff role
文摘
Infectious patients may infect other patients and staff in an emergency department. We used RFID to determine social contact networks of patients and staff in an ED. Black patients have 15 min more contact with staff than non-black patients. There are differences in contacts based on staff role and patient arrival mode. Our findings will help devise ways to artificially increase ED social distances.