Overcrowding Crisis in Our Nation’s Emergency Departments: Is Our Safety Net Unraveling?

http://www.pediatricreadiness.org/files/PDF/Library/Overcrowding_Crisis_in_Our_Nations_EDs-Is_Our_Safety_Net_Unraveling.pdf

ABSTRACT. Emergency departments (EDs) are a vital
component in our health care safety net, available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, for all who require care.
There has been a steady increase in the volume and
acuity of patient visits to EDs, now with well over 100
million Americans (30 million children) receiving emergency
care annually. This rise in ED utilization has effectively
saturated the capacity of EDs and emergency
medical services in many communities. The resulting
phenomenon, commonly referred to as ED overcrowding,
now threatens access to emergency services for those who
need them the most. As managers of the pediatric medical
home and advocates for children and optimal pediatric
health care, there is a very important role for pediatricians
and the American Academy of Pediatrics in
guiding health policy decision-makers toward effective
solutions that promote the medical home and timely
access to emergency care. Pediatrics 2004;114:878–888; access
to emergency care, ambulance diversion, emergency
medical services for children, EMTALA, emergency department
overcrowding.