This discussion was recorded on June 20, 2023. This transcript has been edited for clarity.
Robert D. Glatter, MD: Welcome. I'm Robert Glatter, medical advisor for Medscape Emergency Medicine. Joining me today is Dr Jessica Kirby, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at John Peter Smith Hospital in Dallas, Texas, along with Dr Heidi Knowles, vice chair and medical director, also at John Peter Smith Hospital.
Today we're going to discuss the crisis of boarding in our hospitals throughout the United States. At this point, it's reached a public health emergency. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recently put out a press release, and there will be a discussion with members of Congress to really center in on solutions to this crisis. I'll begin with you, Dr Knowles.
Heidi C. Knowles, MD: Thank you so much for taking the time to investigate this issue. It's truly a nationwide crisis right now. The emergency departments across the country are at a true breaking point. This is a decades-long problem that has been looked into and is still, as yet, unresolved.
Boarding happens when a patient comes to the emergency department, they're seen, they're evaluated by a physician, and a decision is made that they need to be admitted to the hospital for something like maybe
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COMMENTARY
ED Boarding Crisis: How to Reduce Patient Wait Times
Robert D. Glatter, MD; Heidi C. Knowles, MD; Jessica J. Kirby, DO
DisclosuresJuly 13, 2023
This discussion was recorded on June 20, 2023. This transcript has been edited for clarity.
Robert D. Glatter, MD: Welcome. I'm Robert Glatter, medical advisor for Medscape Emergency Medicine. Joining me today is Dr Jessica Kirby, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at John Peter Smith Hospital in Dallas, Texas, along with Dr Heidi Knowles, vice chair and medical director, also at John Peter Smith Hospital.
Today we're going to discuss the crisis of boarding in our hospitals throughout the United States. At this point, it's reached a public health emergency. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recently put out a press release, and there will be a discussion with members of Congress to really center in on solutions to this crisis. I'll begin with you, Dr Knowles.
Heidi C. Knowles, MD: Thank you so much for taking the time to investigate this issue. It's truly a nationwide crisis right now. The emergency departments across the country are at a true breaking point. This is a decades-long problem that has been looked into and is still, as yet, unresolved.
Boarding happens when a patient comes to the emergency department, they're seen, they're evaluated by a physician, and a decision is made that they need to be admitted to the hospital for something like maybe
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Cite this: ED Boarding Crisis: How to Reduce Patient Wait Times - Medscape - Jul 13, 2023.
Tables
Authors and Disclosures
Authors and Disclosures
Authors
Robert D. Glatter, MD
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New York, NY
Disclosure: Robert D. Glatter, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Heidi C. Knowles, MS, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University; Medical Director, Chief of Operations, Department of Emergency Medicine, John Peter Smith Health Network, Fort Worth, Texas
Disclosure: Heidi C. Knowles, MS, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Eagle Scientific Advisory Board; Board of Directors Member-American College of Emergency Physicians
Jessica J. Kirby, DO
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Texas Christian University; Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, John Peter Smith Health Network, Fort Worth, Texas
Disclosure: Jessica J. Kirby, DO, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.