Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Emergency department crowding is a multifactorial issue with causes intrinsic to the emergency department and to the health care system. Understanding that the causes of emergency department crowding span this continuum allows for a more accurate analysis of its effects and a more global consideration of potential solutions. Within the emergency department, boarding of inpatients is the most appreciable effect of hospital-wide crowding, and leads to further emergency department crowding. We explore the concept of emergency department crowding, and its causes, effects, and potential strategies to overcome this problem.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Aug 2020
ReviewOptimizing Patient Experience in the Emergency Department.
Emergency department (ED) patient experience is a growing area of focus for leaders in the ED and throughout health care. While many factors intrinsic to the ED care environment add to the challenge of providing patients with an excellent experience, doing so holds many benefits, including improved patient compliance and health outcomes, improved workplace satisfaction and reduced provider and staff burnout, decreased malpractice risk, and increased revenue. Although wait time is a major driver of patient experience, provider and staff communication are critically important and excellent communication and perceived empathy may mitigate long waits, overcrowded environments, and other challenges.
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Emergency department (ED) operations reflect the intersection of factors external and internal to the ED itself, with unique problems posed by community and academic environments. ED crowding is primarily caused by a lack of inpatient beds for patients admitted through the ED. ⋯ Observation pathways can reduce crowding while maintaining safety. Physician and nurse well-being is an underappreciated topic within operations, and demands close attention and further research.