September 2, 2010

Myth-conceptions of ER overcrowding

Major Myth-conceptions of ED overcrowding

  • Creation myths:
    • An ED problem due to GP type patients and inefficient EDs
  • Outcomes / management myth:
    • Poor patient outcomes are rare
    • Poor outcomes have minimal consequences
    • Therefore – ERs are good places to store excess admitted patients
  • Solution myths:
    • Access block is inevitable and insoluble AND / OR
    • Access block can be sorted out by GP clinics, telephone lines or bigger/ better ERs

Credit: Dr David Mountain from the ACEM Access Block Solutions Summit
Slideshare.net (now available for Keynote presentations from the Mac)

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  5. Underfunded and Overcrowded

About Mike Cadogan
Emergency physician with a passion for medical informatics and medical education. I write medical textbooks and host educational material at Life in the Fast Lane, HealthEngine and Popfossa.com. I write more eclectically on the web as @sandnsurf

Comments

  1. Our Canadian Services Research Foundation actually has a series called “Mythbusters,” a regular publication breaking down healthcare myths.
    Lastest one is good, “In healthcare, more is always better.”

    http://www.chsrf.ca/mythbusters/index_e.php

Trackbacks

  1. Jessie says:

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    After reading your article I am left with the feeling that there is more to this topic than I originally thought….

  2. [...] some further insight into the best way to tackle the key issues of access block, waiting times, ER overcrowding and a global deficiency in adequate bed [...]

  3. [...] to their admission to an inpatient hospital bed exceeds 8 hours]. The current burden of access block rests with the emergency departments and has a significant impact on patient [...]

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