A ‘Barbaric’ Problem in American Hospitals Is Only Getting Bigger
Patients in US hospitals are experiencing extended stays in emergency departments while waiting for inpatient ward beds, leading to suboptimal care. This issue, known as emergency-department boarding, is becoming increasingly common.
Patients in US hospitals are facing prolonged stays in emergency departments due to a shortage of inpatient ward beds. This phenomenon, known as emergency-department boarding, can last for days, resulting in suboptimal care. A personal account illustrates the challenges, with a patient experiencing a 36-hour wait on a hard stretcher amidst alarms and limited access to facilities. Eventually, the patient was moved to an overflow area with inadequate personnel, where they received subpar care, including being served unsuitable food and having soiled sheets unchanged for days. The overworked staff did their best, but the situation highlighted the need for improved hospital care and resource allocation. The issue is becoming increasingly common in American hospitals.
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