The introduction of a rapid assessment team in an emergency department reduced waiting times and accelerated patient flow, as Tracy Edwards describes

As the number of patients who present at emergency departments (EDs) increases (Australian College for Emergency Medicine 2005), ED staff are coming under greater pressure to assess, treat and discharge patients within time limits. This article describes the introduction of a rapid assessment team in an ED in Adelaide, Australia, which assesses patients at triage and treats them until space is available in the main department, thereby improving access and patient flow.