Longer ED waits highlighted in study
Emergency department patients waited an average of 30 minutes to see a physician in 2004, eight minutes longer than in 1997, according to a study of U.S. ED visits published on-line recently by Health Affairs.
Heart attack patients waited an average of 20 minutes to see an ED physician, 12 minutes longer than in 1997.
The estimates are based on an analysis of 90,000 visits to the ED by adults from 1997-2004, a period in which U.S. ED use increased by 16.8 million visits annually.
"Even as the demand for emergency care has increased, many hospitals have closed along with their EDs due to pressure to reduce capacity," said Caroline Steinberg, vice president for trends analysis for the American Hospital Association.
While today 99% of acute care hospitals provide emergency services, the same percentage as in 1990, there are fewer of them, Steinberg pointed out, leading to increased patient loads. In addition, she said, many of the new hospitals that are opening physician-owned, limited-service hospitals are choosing not to provide ED services.
Emergency department patients waited an average of 30 minutes to see a physician in 2004, eight minutes longer than in 1997, according to a study of U.S. ED visits published on-line recently by Health Affairs.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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