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Chapter 15 - Overcrowding, Triage, and Care Rationing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2023

By
Samita M. Heslin  and
Peter Viccellio
Edited by
Mark Curato ,
Kaushal Shah  and
Christopher Reisig
Mark Curato
Affiliation:
Weill Cornell Medicine, New York
Kaushal Shah
Affiliation:
Weill Cornell Medicine, New York
Christopher Reisig
Affiliation:
Weill Cornell Medicine, New York
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Summary

Emergency Departments (EDs) nationwide face overcrowding problems. This is particularly problematic in the urban milieu because of a large volume of patients, smaller physical footprint of EDs, more low-acuity cases, and increased cases needing additional services, such as social services. Overcrowded EDs have negative impacts on patient care and patient safety. There are several solutions to ED overcrowding. Hospital-level solutions include smoothing elective admissions across the week; discharging patients earlier in the day; discharging patients on the weekends; and the Full Capacity Action plan. ED-level solutions include incorporating a Team Triage model; improving radiology turnaround times; improving availability and timeliness of ancillary services; and improving timeliness of consultants.

Keywords

Overcrowdingboardingtriagethroughputelective admissionsdischargesFull Capacity Protocolteam triage
Type
Chapter
Information
Urban Emergency Medicine , pp. 184 - 190
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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References

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