4 strategies to reduce ED overcrowding

4 strategies to reduce ED overcrowding

Recent studies are quantifying what news reports tell us: Americans are waiting longer than ever to get seen and treated in the ED. Several factors contribute to this trend: patient volumes are increasing while ED and inpatient bed capacity decline; individuals without a regular primary care provider often turn to the ED as their first option for care; and persistent staffing shortages strain resources.  Patient boarding — the practice of holdin…