AHRQ Summit to Address Emergency Department Boarding

https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/topics/ed-boarding-summit-report.pdf A new AHRQ report released today shows the causes of emergency department (ED) boarding originate at the hospital or health system level and require solutions beyond the walls of the ED. ED boarding occurs after the decision is made to admit a patient to the hospital but there is no inpatient bed available, so the patient ends up waiting in the emergency department for hours, days or even weeks. Boarding has serious impacts on patients, including excess in-hospital mortality, increased medical errors and costly delays in care delivery. It also negatively impacts hospital staff and public safety. The report presents solutions from this broad contextual view and notes opportunities for health systems, states and federal partners to lead efforts moving forward. The report highlights findings from the AHRQ Summit to Address Emergency Department Boarding held on Oct. 8, 2024, in response to a bipartisan letter from 44 members of Congress to HHS.