title: Improved patient pathways can prevent overcrowding.
abstract: Emergency department (ED) crowding is a common problem throughout the western world. Not only does crowding create a miserable environment for patients, and to considerable stress and poor job satisfaction among staff, it can also lead EDs to breach the four-hour standard and other care quality indicators. In addition, crowding in EDs correlates with increases in patient mortality, rates of admission, lengths of inpatient stay and costs. This article argues that crowding is best tackled by the consistent application of eight principles, derived from various guidance, to emergency patient pathways, particularly those in acute settings.
authors.affiliation: NHS Interim Management and Support. russell.emeny@southwest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Emeny
authors.forename: Connolly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003441:Crowding; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom