Q&A
Emergency department wait times and hospital bed capacity
1:57:16
·
148 sec
Dr. Birnbaum discusses H+H's approach to managing emergency department wait times and hospital bed capacity. The focus is on prioritizing patients based on acuity and providing care regardless of physical location within the hospital.
- Patients are seen based on their level of acuity using the Emergency Service Index
- No specific wait time data is provided, but patients are prioritized based on acuity regardless of arrival method (ambulance or walk-in)
- For patients waiting for hospital beds, care is provided in the ED at the same level as if they were in an inpatient bed
- The average wait time for a hospital bed has reportedly risen to over 26 hours, according to a recent report mentioned by Council Member Narcisse
Mercedes Narcisse
1:57:16
Because I get a lot of complain of the residents now when they I mean, not specifically to the ER in general.
1:57:23
Like, they feel overwhelming and a lot of patient they have to see in a minute.
1:57:29
Let's move forward with that.
1:57:30
Emergency department, wait times.
1:57:33
We know that is increasing.
1:57:35
Do you have any data that you can share regarding wait times at h and h emergency departments?
1:57:41
And if so, Are there any notable differences that you observe regarding the wait time based on borrower or the type of the emergency?
Adrienne Birnbaum
1:57:54
When patients present to our emergency departments, they are always seen based on their level of acuity.
1:58:01
So we use an a system called emergency service index to evaluate the patients, and we always see them and prioritize their care based on their level of acuity and the resources that, you know, that that they need to in order to be seen.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:58:21
Okay.
1:58:22
Our wait times for patient who arrive in ambulance different then with times per patient who arrive at the emergency department on their own.
Adrienne Birnbaum
1:58:32
Well, as I said, we evaluate patients based on their level of acuity and their the resources that are needed to treat them and we we do that systematically for both walk in patients and ambulance patients.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:58:47
You know for some folks, not a lot.
1:58:50
The myth is when you come with the ambulance services, you get the care faster.
1:58:54
Right?
Adrienne Birnbaum
1:58:54
Very aware.
1:58:55
Okay.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:58:55
And I had to explain to them, there's a triage nurse that you have to see.
1:59:00
Thank you.
1:59:01
Hospital bed capacity.
1:59:02
In a recent recent report by political, the average wait time for hospital bed has rising to over 26 hours.
1:59:11
What additional steps are being taken to improve hospital bed availability, especially in h and h hospitals, in underserved area areas, I should say.
Adrienne Birnbaum
1:59:25
Well, we always try to provide the same level of care for patients whether they're boarding in the emergency department or whether they're in a bed upstairs in our house hospital.
1:59:38
So we admit those patients and care for them regardless of their physical location.
