title: Annals of Emergency Medicine Journal Club. Emergency department crowding is associated with poor care for patients with severe pain.
abstract: WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC: Emergency department (ED) crowding may result in delays in the administration of medication such as antibiotics for pneumonia. WHAT QUESTION THIS STUDY ADDRESSED: Does crowding cause delays in treatment for pain? WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE: In this retrospective analysis of 13,578 patients treated at a single inner-city ED, patients with severe pain were slightly less likely to receive pain medications quickly when the ED volume increased. HOW THIS MIGHT CHANGE CLINICAL PRACTICE: Crowding may delay the administration of pain medication in some patients. Standing orders for the administration of pain medication might mitigate such delays.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Tyler W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Schriger