Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

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 …