Exploring Strategies To Reduce Emergency Department Overcrowding And Improve Patient Flow

Abstract

Emergency department overcrowding is a significant healthcare problem that affects countries worldwide. There is much controversy on the factors that contribute to this issue, which makes it challenging to devise effective and specific treatments. The objective of this study was to thoroughly analyze and summarize the results of peer-reviewed academic studies that examined the origins and effects of, as well as potential remedies for, overcrowding in emergency departments. A systematic search was conducted on four databases (Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science) to locate peer-reviewed research papers that focused on studying the causes, repercussions, or solutions to emergency department congestion. The search covered the period from January 2000 to June 2018. Two reviewers used approved critical appraisal techniques to autonomously evaluate the quality of the research. The adverse effects of emergency department (ED) congestion are well recognized, such as compromised patient outcomes and staff's inability to comply with treatment recommendations outlined in guidelines. This assessment has revealed a discrepancy between the causes and remedies. The primary factors contributing to the issue are the quantity and demographics of individuals seeking care in the Emergency Department (ED), as well as the promptness of their release. Conversely, proposed remedies mostly revolve on optimizing the flow of patients inside the ED. Initiatives focused on implementing comprehensive system-wide solutions to achieve timely patient disposition goals, together with increased primary care hours, showed encouraging results. The review found that there has been a rise in the number of elderly patients with complicated and chronic conditions seeking medical attention, which has contributed to overcrowding in emergency departments.