What factors contribute to long ER wait times in Alberta hospitals?

Long ER wait times in Alberta hospitals are significantly influenced by hospital capacity constraints, specifically high inpatient occupancy and admitted patients awaiting ward beds. Other factors include older age, social deprivation, and reliance on emergency medical services transport.

How does hospital occupancy affect ER wait times according to the Alberta study?

The Alberta study found that hospitals with occupancy rates closer to 100 percent generally had shorter ER wait times. Conversely, hospitals with higher occupancy, such as 110 or 120 percent, experienced longer emergency department wait times.

What is Alberta doing to address hospital overcrowding and ER delays?

Alberta is addressing overcrowding through its Acute Care Action plan, which includes increasing continuing care spaces and adding new hospital beds in Calgary and Edmonton. They are also piloting triage physician positions in ERs.

Home / Health / Alberta ER Waits Tied to Hospital Capacity

Alberta ER Waits Tied to Hospital Capacity

4 Feb

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Summary

Hospital capacity is critical to ER wait times.
Crowding factors include occupancy and admitted patients awaiting beds.
Older age and deprivation linked to longer ER stays.

Addressing hospital capacity constraints is "critical" to reducing emergency room wait times in Alberta, according to a new study. Researchers examined over 500,000 ER visits across 14 Alberta hospitals between May 2022 and March 2023.

The study highlights that hospital occupancy rates and the number of admitted patients awaiting ward beds significantly impact ER wait times. Hospitals operating near 100 percent capacity experienced shorter waits compared to those at 110-120 percent occupancy. The findings also indicate that older age, material or social deprivation, and emergency medical services transport were associated with longer ER stays, while connection to a primary care physician was linked to shorter ones.

This research emerges amid growing concerns about ER overcrowding in Alberta. Experts emphasize the need for systemic solutions, including better community care and managing high-risk individuals before they reach emergency departments. The Alberta government's Acute Care Action plan aims to address these issues through increased continuing care spaces and new hospital beds.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.