ED crowding is associated with variable perceptions of care compromise.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Emergency department (ED) crowding is a persistent issue in healthcare systems.
• Crowding can potentially impact the quality of care and patient outcomes.
• Understanding perceptions of care compromise is crucial for addressing ED crowding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the association between emergency department (ED) crowding and patient and provider perceptions of compromised care.
• To identify specific factors contributing to the perception of compromised care in crowded EDs.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving patients admitted from the ED and their healthcare providers (nurses, resident physicians).
• Linked surveys assessed perceptions of care compromise due to ED crowding.
• Logistic regression analysis identified predictors of perceived compromised care.

Main Results:

• A significant percentage of patients (16%), resident physicians (12%), and nurses (24%) reported compromised care due to ED crowding.
• Patient perceptions were linked to waiting room time and being treated in a hallway bed.
• Nurse and resident perceptions were associated with waiting room time, patient volume, and inpatient bed delays.

Conclusions:

• Emergency department crowding is associated with perceptions of compromised emergency care.
• Considerable variability exists among patients, nurses, and resident physicians regarding factors influencing compromised care and its attribution.