International definitions of crowding
| Learned society | Definition of crowding |
| American College of Emergency Physicians8 | Crowding occurs when the identified need for emergency services exceeds available resources for patient care in the emergency department (ED), hospital, or both. |
| Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians9 | Emergency department (ED) overcrowding occurs when the demand for emergency services exceeds the ability of an emergency department to provide quality care within appropriate time frames. |
| Australasian College of Emergency Medicine10 | Emergency department overcrowding refers to the situation where emergency department function is impeded primarily because the number of patients waiting to be seen, undergoing assessment and treatment, or waiting for departure exceeds the physical bed and/or staffing capacity of the emergency department. |