Seven out of every eight hospital administrators believe that the problem of overcrowding has not subsided in the past year, and in many cases has gotten worse, according to a survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians and by patient-flow software vendor TeleTracking. A full 60 percent report that the overcrowding has forced their facilities to divert patients in need of urgent or emergent care. And although more than 70 percent of hospitals responding to the survey have a goal of admitting patients within two hours of arrival in the emergency department, almost half of that group routinely fails. Naturally, TeleTracking says its software can help alleviate the problem.
For basic survey results:
- check out the press release [1]
Related Articles:
Overcrowding in the ER. Letters [2]
Congress takes on ER overcrowding. Report [3]
Links:
[1] http://www.acep.org/webportal/Newsroom/NR/general/2007/011507.htm
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/overcrowding-in-the-er/2006-09-26
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/congress-takes-on-er-overcrowding/2006-09-28