Treatment algorithm reduces oxygen use in the Emergency Department.

Results The 4-week period before the intervention included 2190 patients and the 4-week period after the intervention included 2122 patients. The indications for O2 therapy were very similar in the two periods. After the intervention, the proportion of patients with supplemental O2 therapy was reduced from 11% (246) to 9% (182) (P< 0.003), a relative decrease of 18%. Undesired effects were similar in nature and frequency in the two observation periods.