title: ED boarding creates patient safety issues, increases risk of mortality.
abstract: When patients stay in the emergency department waiting for an inpatient bed, it creates patient safety issues and increases the risk of mortality. Analyze what happens during the entire hospital stay to find out where there are roadblocks to timely patient throughput. Come up with ways to ensure that patients are moved to the next level of care as soon as it is appropriate. Begin discharge planning on day 1 and engage the patient and family early on, informing them of the anticipated discharge date.
mesh_terms: D003441:Crowding; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety; D018570:Risk Assessment