Hospitals Roll Out Plans To Reduce ED Wait Times
California hospitals are developing strategies to address long wait times at their emergency departments. For example, San Diego-area facilities are renovating buildings to increase space while adding staff. Scripps Mercy Hospital uses a "quick-stop lobby" in the waiting room where non-emergency patients are placed on the "gold side" and emergency patients on the "blue side." In addition, Tri-City Medical Center has set up a referral system where patients who do not have a primary care physician can receive follow-up care at community clinics after an ED visit.
- "Hospitals Learn Ways To Cut Exasperating Waiting Times" (Lavelle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8/1).