Summary

What is known?
There is considerable variability in the number of emergency patients admitted to hospital.
What is the question?
What factors influence the decision to admit patients?
What was found?
In a low-resource setting, mental status, mobility and oxygen saturation rapidly identified patients most and least likely to be admitted to hospital.
What is the implication?
A simple score rapidly identifies patients who need hospital admission, and its use may reduce waiting time for these patients.