Immediate resuscitation and early disposition to definitive care improves outcomes. Homeless patients are neglected in emergency department (ED). The duration of ED stay and profile of injury of homeless patients at a Level-1 Trauma center were measured.

The study was performed from October 2008 to September 2009. Homeless patients were defined as patients who had no attendant and did not have any shelter. Duration of ED stay was noted from the ED arrival time to entry time at the definitive care (intensive care unit/ward). Clinical and demographic details were recorded. Subjects who had: (1) an attendant; (2) were discharged from the ED; or (3) expired in the ED were excluded.

Forty-one homeless patients were admitted. The mode of injury was road traffic crash in 73.2%; assault in 7.3%; fall from height in 7.3%; and in 12.2%, the mode of injury unknown. The average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 6.76, with a maximum of 34 and minimum of 1. A total of 24 subjects (59%) had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of ≤ 8 (severe head injury), 10 patients (24%) had GCS score 9–12 (moderate head injury), and seven subjects (17%) had GCS score 13–15 (minor head injury). Breath alcohol test was positive in 13%. The average duration of ED stay was 35 (3–173) hours in the homeless group and 12 (0.5–18) hours for patients with an attendant. Twenty-one subjects were admitted to neurosurgery (51.2%) with an average ED stay of 22.4 hours, five to surgery (12.20%) with average ED stay of 56.6 hours, and 15 to orthopedics (36.6%) with average ED stay of 45.3 hours.

The emergency department stay of homeless patients was 35 hours. Orthopedic trauma subjects had a prolonged disposal time. This addresses serious patient safety concerns and immediate remedial measures.