Waiting Time In The Emergency Field Essay

Emergency Departments (EDs) are a vital hub in the health care system as they handle acute injuries and illness, particularly if the patient’s physician is unavailable at the time. Additionally, EDs are also key gateways in the admission to hospitals with 60 percent of admissions to hospitals taking place through EDs. Because of the integral role played by emergency departments in hospitals, challenges in the other departments may also significantly affect the operations of the EDs. Thus, due to the significant number of annual visits to the ED, challenges in the EDs such as such prolonged waiting time may tremendously influence the nature of the public opinion in regard to the entire health care system. The wait time in the emergency room begins as soon as a patient steps foot in the emergency room and only ends the moment the patient is admitted to the hospital or discharged home. Typically, the causes of long wait times are complex and maybe unique depending on the general organization of the hospital.
On the doctor’s side, less waiting time translates to more efficiency in the emergency department meaning more patients will be assessed. The fact that less time in the ER leas to better mood of the patient means that nurses will have an easier time in executing their duties as they are the frontline staff in the provision of care to the patients. Reducing waiting time is also of importance to the administration as it creates a positive light on the management of the hospital. Understanding some of the factors that immensely contribute to wait times in the emergency rooms is the initial step in addressing this problem. As such, the following paper critically examines, analyzes, and comes up with the strategic plans that can be implemented by Florida Hospital Orlando in a bid to reduce the wait time in the emergency