Understanding ED Crowding and Boarding

ED crowding occurs when the demand for emergency services surpasses available resources, leading to a situation where patients cannot be seen in a timely manner. Boarding, which is the additional time admitted patients spend waiting in the ED for inpatient beds, directly exacerbates experiencing crowding. The relationship between boarding and crowding is critical, as increased boarding times mean fewer available beds for new patients, further intensifying the crowding problem. A study highlighted during the discussion indicates that during high occupancy periods, median boarding times in the ED significantly increase, demonstrating the urgent need for effective management strategies.