Study finds longer ED wait times

Patient Safety Monitor Alert

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January 16, 2008

A new report from Health Affairs shows that between 1997 and 2004, the average time patients had to wait to see a doctor in the emergency department (ED) rose from 22 minutes to 30 minutes. This translates to a 4.1% increase per year in that time. Also, those patients who were diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction waited 20 minutes to be seen, up from eight minutes in 1997.

The authors of the study give a few reasons for the longer wait times. These include ED closings and an increase in number of people who visited the ED.

To read the study, click here.