Emergency Department Crisis In California: Why It Takes So Long To Wait?

The emergency Department in California creates a growing health crisis making patients wonder why are wait times so long in the emergency room, a new study relieves light on the challenges that the state’s healthcare system is facing, due to more patients needing treatment but has fewer places to treat them.

Emergency Department Crisis In California: Why It Takes So Long To Wait? (PHOTO: ReachMD)

Emergency Department Crisis In California

A new study conducted by the  University of California San Francisco (UCSF) regarding a growing crisis found that the number of emergency department visits has increased by 7.4 percent, and the number of emergency rooms has fallen by nearly 4 percent.

The researchers also reported that the number of high-severity visits increased by almost 68 percent, while the number of low-severity visits declined by 63 percent.

As California’s healthcare system faces challenges there are still ways to make the most of the situation. The leading researcher Renee Y. Hsia, MD, a UCSF professor of emergency medicine claimed that there is overcrowding in the emergency department and the capacity had failed to match the rise in patient demand, according to a University of California San Francisco news article.

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Emergency Departments Are Important In Healthcare System

Emergency departments in California recreate a crucial role in the healthcare system, serving as a safety net for uninsured people and providing care regardless of their capacity to settle the payment.

However, the study revealed that California’s population raised by 4.2 percent, while the number of Emergency departments diminished from 339 to 326. Additionally, the number of hospital beds was reduced by 2.5 percent, further exacerbating the strain on emergency services.

Dr. Hsia announced that according to their findings, many healthcare workers already know this to be true: the burden on emergency departments across the state of California has intensified over the last 10-15 years.

She also emphasizes the significance of increased Emergency department capacity and strategic resource allocation as vital steps toward enhancing emergency department care and alleviating overcrowding.

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