Overcrowding in the ER

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State of Emergency

EmilyBy Emily Newhook

Whether you’re suffering from a broken bone or a life-threatening illness, a trip to the emergency room is always a scary prospect.

But, what happens when an ER is faced with more patients than it can accommodate? Between 1995 and 2010, annual ER visits in the U.S. grew by 34 percent, while the number of hospitals with ERs declined by 11 percent.

From long wait times to sky-high medical costs, overcrowding puts undue pressure on patients, providers and administrators when efficient, high-quality care matters most.

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State-of-Emergency

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The online MHA degree program MHA@GW created this infographic to show the impact of overcrowding on U.S. emergency rooms. The graphic looks at some of the major causes of congested ERs, examines the impact on care delivery and explores proposed solutions to the problem of overcrowding.

Assessment

Help us raise awareness of this important issue by sharing the infographic above.

Conclusion

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2 Responses

  1. Drive-Thru ERs

    Drive-thru medical experiment conducted at Stanford Hospital and Clinics.

    http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12580052

    Interesting, no?

    Dr. Ursinsky

    Like

  2. Over 2% of ER Visits Are Related to Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions

    A new study analyzing the relationship between expanded dental coverage under Medicare and emergency room visits was recently published in Health Affairs. Here are some key findings from the report:

    • More than 2% of emergency room visits are related to non-traumatic dental conditions.
    • 56% of emergency physicians responding to a poll say the number of Medicaid patients is increasing.
    • The rate of dentists who accept Medicaid is 11% in Missouri, 15% in Florida and 20% in New York.
    • 8.3 million are eligible to gain dental coverage through Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
    • As of January 2013, 45 million Americans were living in regions with shortages of dental care providers.
    • 90% of dental emergency visits occur in urban counties.

    Source: Health Affairs, August 5, 2015

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