The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65713

Sabeena Mian, MBA¹, Jennifer Houlihan, MSP¹, and Michael Greene, MPA². (1) Planning, Health Care District of Palm Beach County, 324 Datura Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, (2) Planning, Health Care District of Palm Beach County, 324 Datura Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, 5616591270, mgreene@hcdpbc.org

As a result of increased demand for emergency department and hospital services, a decreased supply of both hospitals and hospital beds, as well as patient throughput issues, emergency departments and hospitals have experienced periods of overcrowding throughout the year. In some instances, the overcrowding reaches a level where the hospital requests that ambulances divert from their facility and transport the patient to the next closes facility. By diverting patients to other facilities, the emergency department and/or hospital is able to stabilize their operations and regain some capacity to treat newly arriving patients.

Some of the factors associated with overcrowding can be locally mitigated while other factors are outside of the county’s control. Specifically, patient throughput issues can be addressed at the hospital level; patient demand issues can be impacted to a limited extent locally; and supply issues are primarily addressed at the state level, through the certificate of need process, and at a hospital or corporate level as it relates to finances.

The real sphere of influence that we have as a local community is relegated to our response to overcrowding. This entails how we define and monitor diversion, the quality assurance process that is put in place by hospitals and EMS providers, and the management of resources when a hospital does become overcrowded.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the underlying causes of Emergency Department Overcrowding and Diversion
• Learn about the types of assessment strategies and methods employed to conduct this analysis
• Learn how to develop community solutions that involve all stakeholders

Keywords: Emergency Department/Room,

Related Web page: www.hcdpbc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Health Care District of Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Health Department
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.