ER Wait Times Continue to Climb, Says Michigan Medicine Study
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
Prolonged wait times for emergency hospitalization, known as "boarding," have significantly increased in the U.S. since mid-2020, with over 25% of patients waiting more than four hours for a bed during non-peak months, and this figure rising to 35% in winter. A study analyzing 46 million emergency visits across 1,500 hospitals predicts that by 2024, nearly 5% of patients could wait a full day for a bed during peak times, raising concerns about patient safety and overall healthcare efficiency. These prolonged boarding times are worsening emergency department overcrowding, potentially compromising the system's ability to handle new patients and increasing the risk of collapse during future healthcare crises. Moreover, the research indicates regional disparities, with the Northeast particularly affected, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in healthcare management.
