Abstract
Boarding of admitted patients in the Emergency Department (ED), rather than in inpatient care areas, is widespread. We surveyed boarded patients, patients without a disposition, and visitors at a county hospital ED serving a mixed urban and rural population. Subjects were asked "If you needed to be admitted to the hospital but no inpatient bed is available, would you prefer to be kept in an ER hallway or a hallway on an inpatient ward?" Boarded patients said they would prefer ward to ED boarding, 117/213 (54.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 48.0%-61.7%). Patients without a disposition 314/477 (65.8%; 95% CI 61.4%-70.0%) and visitors 370/532 (69.5%; 95% CI 65.4%-73.4%) stated a preference for ward boarding in 314/477 (65.8%; 95% CI 61.4%-70.0%) and in 370/532 (69.5%; 95% CI 65.4%-73.4%), respectively. Common reasons for preferring inpatient ward boarding were privacy concerns and reduced noise levels. Those preferring ED boarding valued easy access to a doctor.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 221-226 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- boarding
- Emergency Department
- overcrowding
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency Medicine
Cite this
Patients Would Prefer Ward to Emergency Department Boarding While Awaiting an Inpatient Bed. / Walsh, Paul; Cortez, Valarie; Bhakta, Himanshu.
In: Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 34, No. 2, 02.2008, p. 221-226.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Patients Would Prefer Ward to Emergency Department Boarding While Awaiting an Inpatient Bed
AU - Walsh, Paul
AU - Cortez, Valarie
AU - Bhakta, Himanshu
PY - 2008/2
Y1 - 2008/2
N2 - Boarding of admitted patients in the Emergency Department (ED), rather than in inpatient care areas, is widespread. We surveyed boarded patients, patients without a disposition, and visitors at a county hospital ED serving a mixed urban and rural population. Subjects were asked "If you needed to be admitted to the hospital but no inpatient bed is available, would you prefer to be kept in an ER hallway or a hallway on an inpatient ward?" Boarded patients said they would prefer ward to ED boarding, 117/213 (54.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 48.0%-61.7%). Patients without a disposition 314/477 (65.8%; 95% CI 61.4%-70.0%) and visitors 370/532 (69.5%; 95% CI 65.4%-73.4%) stated a preference for ward boarding in 314/477 (65.8%; 95% CI 61.4%-70.0%) and in 370/532 (69.5%; 95% CI 65.4%-73.4%), respectively. Common reasons for preferring inpatient ward boarding were privacy concerns and reduced noise levels. Those preferring ED boarding valued easy access to a doctor.
AB - Boarding of admitted patients in the Emergency Department (ED), rather than in inpatient care areas, is widespread. We surveyed boarded patients, patients without a disposition, and visitors at a county hospital ED serving a mixed urban and rural population. Subjects were asked "If you needed to be admitted to the hospital but no inpatient bed is available, would you prefer to be kept in an ER hallway or a hallway on an inpatient ward?" Boarded patients said they would prefer ward to ED boarding, 117/213 (54.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 48.0%-61.7%). Patients without a disposition 314/477 (65.8%; 95% CI 61.4%-70.0%) and visitors 370/532 (69.5%; 95% CI 65.4%-73.4%) stated a preference for ward boarding in 314/477 (65.8%; 95% CI 61.4%-70.0%) and in 370/532 (69.5%; 95% CI 65.4%-73.4%), respectively. Common reasons for preferring inpatient ward boarding were privacy concerns and reduced noise levels. Those preferring ED boarding valued easy access to a doctor.
KW - boarding
KW - Emergency Department
KW - overcrowding
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=39149117379&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=39149117379&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.05.012
DO - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.05.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 17976825
AN - SCOPUS:39149117379
VL - 34
SP - 221
EP - 226
JO - Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - Journal of Emergency Medicine
SN - 0736-4679
IS - 2
ER -