Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, The George Washington University
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Perfecting Patient Flow: America's Safety Net Hospitals And Emergency Department Crowding, Marcia J. Wilson, Bruce Siegel, Mike Williams
Perfecting Patient Flow: America's Safety Net Hospitals And Emergency Department Crowding, Marcia J. Wilson, Bruce Siegel, Mike Williams
Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications
Emergency department crowding and delays have become major issues for America's safety net hospitals and health systems. Many facilities are experiencing increasing wait times, a need to "board" admitted patients in emergency department (ED) hallways, and rising numbers of hours spent on "diversion" or "bypass." These trends result from increased patient demand at a time when the number of emergency departments has declined and hospital inpatient capacity has lagged. Other factors also may contribute to the crisis. Patients without access to medical specialists may view the ED as the quickest route to specialized services. Overburdened physicians may be more likely …