Improving Patient Flow Through the Emergency Department

One of the biggest challenges in Emergency Medicine, to date, is emergency room overcrowding which is associated with excessive length of stay and patient flow. Emergency department overcrowding is associated with decreased patient satisfaction, increased morbidity and mortality. The suggested length of stay in the emergency department to prevent these complication is less than four hours. This research was compiled to propose solutions to improve patient flow through the emergency department, in turn, decreasing overcrowding and the complications associated with overcrowding. The research supported a triage system and also suggested two other methods including utilizing a Clinical Decision Unit and understanding the hospital census to improve patient flow and decrease overcrowding