| If you're rushing to the emergency room, you | | | | Hispanic patients and African-American patients |
| need help right away. It turns out you'll just have | | | | were less likely to be seen in the recommended |
| to get in line and wait. Emergency room wait | | | | amount of time than whites, the researchers |
| times across the country have been a concern | | | | found, but whether or not a person had health |
| for years and a new study reveals that in the | | | | insurance didn't influence their likelihood of getting |
| 21st century wait times are actually getting | | | | care on time. |
| worse. | | | | Patient care advocates and emergency room |
| Over half of patients deemed to need emergency | | | | healthcare experts say emergency rooms are |
| care -- meaning they should see a doctor in 14 | | | | typically the places in hospitals which are the most |
| minutes or less -- actually saw a physicianin this | | | | crowded, drastically understaffed, and have the |
| time frame. | | | | longest wait times for care. This can lead to |
| Researchers looked at data representing nearly | | | | instances of medical malpractice due to any of |
| 540 million emergency room visits in the US | | | | the following: |
| between 1997 and 2006. They analyzed how | | | | -Delay in care causing an increase injury and illness |
| often patients in each emergency category were | | | | -Patients not being properly monitored |
| seen within the recommended wait time. | | | | -Incorrect diagnoses that are incorrect |
| "Emergent" patients must be seen within 14 | | | | -Diagnoses of illness too late for care |
| minutes, while "urgent" patients require care in 15 | | | | -Incorrect or inappropriate treatment |
| to 60 minutes. "Semi-urgent" patients should | | | | -Inappropriate doses administered |
| receive care within two hours, while "non-urgent" | | | | -Errors in lab tests |
| patients can wait longer. In 1997, the researchers | | | | -Over dosage |
| found, 59 percent of emergent patients were | | | | In the past, some hospitals have tried |
| seen within 14 minutes, compared to 48 percent | | | | implementing different systems to try and |
| in 2006. For urgent patients, the likelihood of being | | | | increase productivity and reduce wait time. |
| seen on time went from 84 percent in 1997 to | | | | Patients were color-coded and fast-tracked on an |
| 76 percent in 2006. Semi-urgent patients also | | | | elaborate computer system. Researchers are not |
| were less likely to be seen in a timely fashion | | | | sure how hospitals will solve this growing dilmena. |
| over time; 91 percent were seen within the | | | | They say while improving electronic health care |
| recommended amount of time in 1997, but 85 | | | | information systems could also add efficiency no |
| percent were in 2006. | | | | one move will get things right. |