ED Flow Scoping Review

I’m commissioning a full scoping review that maps the existing evidence on Emergency Department (ED) patient flow and wait times, with two focal points:

• Critical-care presentations – I need a clear picture of what current literature says about bottlenecks, delays, and proven strategies for time-sensitive cases such as stroke, STEMI, sepsis, major trauma, etc.
• Pediatric triage accuracy – while the primary lens is critical care, I also want to understand how triage precision for children influences overall flow metrics and resource allocation.

Scope of work
You’ll design and execute a systematic scoping methodology (PRISMA-ScR preferred), search major databases (e.g., PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus) plus grey literature, screen titles/abstracts, chart key data points, and present a narrative synthesis supported by tables or evidence maps.

Deliverables
1. Search strategy strings for all databases
2. PRISMA flow diagram and screening log
3. Extraction matrix (Excel/CSV) with study characteristics, flow/wait-time outcomes, and triage accuracy findings
4. Structured report summarising gaps, consistent themes, and practice implications (≈ 4,000–6,000 words)
5. Reference library (EndNote/Zotero/RIS)

Acceptance criteria
• Search is reproducible and covers the last 10 years at minimum
• Dual-reviewer screening documented (or clear rationale if single)
• Critical appraisal tool noted for each included study even if quality is not the primary focus
• All findings linked back to critical-care or paediatric-triage relevance

Please outline your proposed timeline, databases you plan to use, and any previous scoping or systematic reviews you have completed.