Crowding in the Emergency Department: Challenges and Recommendations for the Care of Children
Toni Gross, Natalie Lane, Nathan Timm, Gregory P. Conners, Toni Gross, Jennifer A. Hoffmann, Benson Hsu, Lois K. Lee, Jennifer R. Marín, Suzan Mazor, Ronald I. Paul, Mohsen Saidinejad, Muhammad Waseem, Mark X. Cicero, Paul Ishimine, A.D. Eisenberg, Mary E. Fallat, Patricia Fanflik, Cynthia Wright Johnson, Sara B. Kinsman, Cynthiana Lightfoot, Charles G. Macias, Katherine Remick, Sam Shahid, Elizabeth C. Stone, Joseph L. Wright, James Callahan, Javier González del Rey, Madeline Joseph, Elizabeth A. Mack, Nathan Timm, Ann Dietrich, Brian R. Moore, Diane Pilkey, Mohsen Saidinejad, Sally K. Snow, Sue Tellez
Abstract
Emergency department (ED) crowding results when available resources cannot meet the demand for emergency services. ED crowding has negative impacts on patients, health care workers, and the community. Primary considerations for reducing ED crowding include improving the quality of care, patient safety, patient experience, and the health of populations, as well as reducing the per capita cost of health care. Evaluating causes, effects, and seeking solutions to ED crowding can be done within a conceptual framework addressing input, throughput, and output factors. ED leaders must coordinate with hospital leadership, health system planners and policy decision makers, and those who provide pediatric care to address ED crowding. Proposed solutions in this policy statement promote the medical home and timely access to emergency care for children.