Why are hospital emergency departments overcrowded?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Too many people abuse the emergency department by going there for things that aren't true emergencies. Not having health insurance is a big contributor to this. About one in five uninsured Americans get most of their care at the local hospital emergency department, and more than 30% of those visits to the emergency department are not truly urgent.
Yes, the people who are misusing emergency departments this way may indeed be quite sick, but they're using the emergency department for something that could be—or could have been—handled easily at a doctor's office, for much less hassle and expense (and without putting anyone's life in true jeopardy, which you risk doing when you 1) let an ailment go untreated until it gets so bad that a trip to the hospital is necessary, or 2) go to the E.D. unnecessarily and add to the crowding that causes treatment delays for the people who really have life-threatening emergencies.
Find out more about this book: YOU: The Smart Patient: An Insider's Handbook for Getting the Best Treatmen...
Too many people abuse the emergency department by going there for things that aren't true emergencies. Not having health insurance is a big contributor to this. About one in five uninsured Americans get most of their care at the local hospital... More -
Debra Dibartolo answered:Hospital emergency department overcrowding is a multi-factor problem. Let’s explore some of them-
- Lack of skilled nursing home beds to discharge long term care patients to.
- Lack of skilled community nursing services available in the community to assist patients with Intravenous medications and dressing changes.
- Lack of home health care services available in the community to assist home bound patients safely with activities of daily living like toileting, hygiene, food preparation and eating.
- Increasing issues with uncontrolled chronic illness and patients unable to get primary care medical services in the community or lack of insurance/health care resources to get medications to prevent acute exacerbations of their chronic illness.
- Hospitals closing in some community simply decreasing the number a hospital beds available.
- Aging population and increase in chronic illness.
- In ability of patients to get in to primary care doctors office in a perceived timely manner.
Hospital emergency department overcrowding is a multi-factor problem. Let’s explore some of them- Lack of skilled nursing home beds to discharge long term care patients to. Lack of skilled community nursing services available in the community... More -
Deb Cordes of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:Hospital emergency departments are often overcrowded because many people go to the emergency room for non-emergent health reasons. It is the responsibility of the hospital to ensure an accurate assessment of each person that comes to the emergency room. Because of this responsibility to ensure each patient is being assessed and treated appropriately there often time becomes a back log of patients.
Hospital emergency departments are often overcrowded because many people go to the emergency room for non-emergent health reasons. It is the responsibility of the hospital to ensure an accurate assessment of each person that comes to the emergency... More
