Managing rural emergency department overcrowding.
Emergency department visits reached more than 115 million in 2005, a 30% increase over the past decade. Although much has been written regarding these numbers, little attention has been focused on the impact of overcrowding and volume increases on rural emergency departments. Rural emergency departments face challenges unlike their urban counterparts that make implementation of current overcrowding strategies difficult or impossible. This article addresses these challenges and suggests strategies specific to the needs of rural emergency departments.
Van Vonderen
Mary L
ML
Hayward Area Memorial Hospital, Hayward, Wisconsin, USA. mvanvond@css.edu
D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003441:Crowding; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000639:trends; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States