Comments on: ER waits: The NY Times is half-right http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/01/er-waits-ny-times-is-half-right.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mike Pringlehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/01/er-waits-ny-times-is-half-right.html#comment-82878 Mike Pringle Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:38:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/01/er-waits-the-ny-times-is-half-right.html#comment-82878 Emergency Department (ED) wait times as you say Kevin are not because EDs are being flooded with uninsured people. I'd like to see the data that supports this conclusion. EDs are over crowded for a number of reasons. Fist as you pointed out there are not enough primary care providers in the system, and it takes an incredibly long time for many patients to get an appointment to see their own physician/NP etc.<br/><br/>Out of convenience many people go to the ED because despite the wait it is still faster than their PCP.<br/><br/>Other factors that contribute to ED crowding/wait times as the article points out is the admissions process at a hospital. Some institutions do very well with patient flow, others do not. Often times there is a bed crunch going on and the hospital is full. It backs up the system.<br/><br/>Insurance or the lack there of is unlikely to impact ED waiting times. It is a supply and demand issue. EDs and hospitals have finite resources. When these resources are stressed than the system will respond accordingly.<br/><br/>Thanks for the opportunity. Emergency Department (ED) wait times as you say Kevin are not because EDs are being flooded with uninsured people. I’d like to see the data that supports this conclusion. EDs are over crowded for a number of reasons. Fist as you pointed out there are not enough primary care providers in the system, and it takes an incredibly long time for many patients to get an appointment to see their own physician/NP etc.

Out of convenience many people go to the ED because despite the wait it is still faster than their PCP.

Other factors that contribute to ED crowding/wait times as the article points out is the admissions process at a hospital. Some institutions do very well with patient flow, others do not. Often times there is a bed crunch going on and the hospital is full. It backs up the system.

Insurance or the lack there of is unlikely to impact ED waiting times. It is a supply and demand issue. EDs and hospitals have finite resources. When these resources are stressed than the system will respond accordingly.

Thanks for the opportunity.

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