Emergency Room Waits Getting Longer

Crowded Emergency Departments Are Part of the Problem, Study Shows

(WebMD)  U.S. emergency rooms are more crowded than ever, and that's leading to longer wait times for treatment, a new study shows.

The study, published online today in Health Affairs, shows a 4 percent annual increase in wait times for treatment in U.S. emergency rooms from 1997 to 2004.

In 1997, a typical ER adult patient waited 22 minutes for treatment, compared to 30 minutes in 2004. That equals "an extra 1,550 years that Americans spent waiting in EDs [emergency departments] in 2004," write the researchers.

Wait times rose across the board, regardless of the severity of the patient's condition.

For instance, patients with heart attacks waited 20 minutes for emergency room treatment in 2004. That's 12 minutes longer than their typical wait time in 1997.

Why the delay? The study notes several reasons, including crowded emergency rooms, America's aging population, shortages of hospital staff and inpatient beds, and growing numbers of people without health insurance.

Some patients -- women, African-Americans, Hispanics, and people in urban ERs -- waited longer than others. Those patterns didn't change between 1997 and 2004, "despite widespread efforts to reduce disparities in medical care," write Andrew Wilper, MD, and colleagues, who work at Harvard Medical School and its affiliate, the Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, Mass.

(What are your ER horror stories ? Share with others on WebMD's Health Cafe message board.)

[diana_poi]

(cont)
Yes, it is a shame that sometimes a true heart attack patient has to wait a few minutes longer to begin the treatment they desperately need. But unfortunately the 5 or 6 people ahead of him also claimed they had "chest pain" in order to come back from the lobby sooner. So put the blame where it truly belongs--not the dr''s, nurses, administration, hospital closures, or even the insurance companies. It''s the patients who come to the EMERGENCY ROOM who do not have an actual emergency who should be ashamed of themselves. They may even cost someone their lives.

[diana_poi]

As an ER nurse, I was disappointed to hear the main problem facing our staff and causing longer wait times to barely get a mention at the end of the segment. My ER is bombarded every day by "patients" who abuse the system. We treat throngs of toothaches, back problems, and chronic pain syndromes that should never be allowed to use the emergency system. I''ve even cared for a stubbed toe who came in by ambulance! One patient even admitted to me "I''d go to my primary doctor, but he charges a $5 co-pay." Like the ER hospital care is free! NO--we''re footing the bill for these free-loaders who abuse our health care system, forcing costs higher and higher for those with insurance and who actually try to honor their payment obligations! Here in Tennessee, our TennCare laws encourage reporting fraud or misuse of the system. But our hospital policies and mortal fear of HIPAA laws prohibit reporting under all but the most extreme cases. Where will it end?

[monroml]

I am just happy to see the obvious problems of ER''s around the country finally making news headlines. This is not a new issue...but it is finally a crisis situation for most emergency departments. I am a manager of an emergency department...and the abuse we take on a daily basis from uninsured patients is ridiculous...we can thank our EMTALA laws for that...but during your whole news story, no mention was made of the nursing shortage...this is a huge contributor to overcrowding in the ER...we could take care of our ER patients if we could get all of the inpatients our of our department...that is what causes the 5-6 hour waits...there are NO nurses on the inpatient units to take care of them...God needs to bless our healthcare system because its going down the tubes fast!!!

[prinzowhales]

kwillymd--I wish you every success. I hope your insuror is not sticking it too you.

[kwillymd]

After 19 years working as a ER physician at Pascack Valley Hospital I saw the hospital being squeezed by insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and the non-payers until it finally filed bankruptcy and closed. With more hospitals closing and third party payers pinching the providers every way they can, there will be even longer waites in the ER which has become the failsafe of last resort for medical needs. I for one am doing something to buck the trend. I have opened a ''urgent care house call'' business to take care of minor emergenies in the comfort of the patient''s home. Made affordable by freeing myself from third party payers like insurance companies, medicare and medicaid. Eliminating the third party dramatically reduces cost, puts the patient first, allows the patient to decide how to spend his/her money and with whichever health provider he/she chooses. Giving the people the power to decide how to purchase health care with health savings accounts is a step in the right direction.

[prinzowhales]

And how many in these long lines are there because of untoward effects of their prescription medications? How many are there because of upper respiratory infections due to improper diet that tanks their immune systems? How many are there because they are overweight, don''t exercise and abuse alcohol and recreational drugs? How many are there because they like to drive and talk on their G-- D--- cell phones and text page? We have enough health care in America for everyone who really deserves it...what we utterly lack is nutritonal care and physical and mental fitness.

Merck, after lying and murdering tens of thousands of Americans with Vioxx is found covering up research that its cr*ppy drug Vytorin, does not work. But just keep taking it...dumba**es...there is a reason America is number 37 in the world in health care...the American people..."you can''t fix stupid."

http://www.newstarget.com/022505.html
http://www.newstarget.com/022501.html

[eph521n22]

I''ve worked in the Emergency Care setting for 27 years. Patients with complaints suggesting heart attacks do not wait, and are taken directly to the treatment area, treatment begins immediately. The problem is the patient that makes up complaints, just to try to get back first, and the patients that call 911 for a taxi (ambulance)ride for the sore throat, or cough and snotty nose.

[drivelphobe]

There should be two lines in the emergency rooms. One for paying, insured patients, and another for transients and uninsured individuals. Patient care should be administered on the basis of ability to pay whenever there is a backlog. It is inexcusable that an insured individual should not receive priority over someone without coverage or capacity to pay. If anyone has to wait for treatment, it should be those on the dole.

Healthcare is not a right.