Report puts spotlight on inpatient holds: the No. 1 reason for ED overcrowding.
A just-released General Accounting Office report identified holding inpatients in the ED as the No. 1 reason for overcrowding. Have inpatient nurses care for admitted patients in the ED, including paperwork. Use a "bed control" office to get admitted patients discharged or transported more quickly, freeing ED beds. Consider adding an admissions nurse to handle inpatient documentation or a second ED charge nurse to track inpatients.
D003405:Creativity; D003441:Crowding; D004282:Documentation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission; D014481:United States