emergency department (ed) overcrowding: evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions

Abstract

Overcrowding in emergency departments is a problem in many countries around the world, including the United States and Chile. Emergency department (ED) overcrowding causes problems for patients and staff, including increased waiting times, increased ambulance diversion, increased length of stay, increased medical errors, increased patient mortality, and increased harm to hospitals due to financial losses. This article aims to describe the etiology of ED overcrowding and potential solutions through an examination of the evidence. Ultimately, ED overcrowding originates from hospital overcrowding and thus the solutions to this complex problem lie in the ED itself as well as outside of the ED.