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ER Overcrowding
 

 
Daily Bread
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10
A national epidemic

While much of the media’s recent attention has been on a possible flu pandemic, a quieter danger has been growing in the medical arena — ER overcrowding. Recent national and local studies have confirmed that ERs are experiencing record overcrowding. This often means longer wait times and more frustrated feelings for ER patients.

A decreased number of hospitals and an increased number of patients.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows a 26 percent increase in ER visits from 1993 to 2003. In those same 10 years, the number of available ERs nationwide has decreased by 12.3 percent. With fewer ERs and more patients, it’s not a surprise that 90 percent of hospitals are considered at or beyond capacity. Ultimately these statistics have a direct effect on each person in the ER waiting room.

The national average time for an ER visit is more than three hours. Fewer hospitals and minor medical centers mean more traffic into local ERs. Nationwide, waiting times for nonurgent patients has increased 33 percent since 1997. What this means is that no ER can guarantee that it will get every patient in and out as quickly as patients would like. Patients should expect to wait for some length of time.

Because patients are seen in order of the severity of their illness or injury, nonurgent patients generally must have to wait a bit longer for care. However, having to wait means your condition is less severe than those ahead of you.

Published: March 16, 2006


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