Administration of emergency medicineEmergency Department overcrowding and ambulance diversion: The impact and potential solutions of extended boarding of admitted patients in the Emergency Department
Section snippets
Overcrowding
The issue of Emergency Department (ED) crowding and ambulance diversion first received national attention with sporadic reports in the late 1980s. It has become an increasingly significant national problem for more than a decade. Surveys of hospital directors have reported overcrowding in almost every state in the U.S. Daily overcrowding has been reported by 10–30% of hospitals surveyed. Over 90% of hospital ED directors reported overcrowding as a problem, resulting in: patients in hallways,
Future goals
The problem of ED crowding has clearly captured the attention of emergency physicians, hospital administration, major health care organizations, and government policymakers. The realization of the major significance of this problem clearly justifies the hope that the present dangerous situation can improve. But the fix is not an easy one and will require sustained, coordinated efforts and resources from all stakeholders.
Future goals are:
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Future research demonstrating
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Adverse effects of
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Cited by (0)
Administration of Emergency Medicine is coordinated by Eugene Kercher, md, of Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, California and Richard F. Salluzzo, md, of Conemaugh Meridian Health Group, Johnstown, Pennsylvania