The Future of Emergency Care: Key Findings and Recommendations
As published in the June 2006 Fact Sheet from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, emergency medical care in the United States is at a crisis point. Please see the press release of June 14, 2006, for the detailed report. "Despite the lifesaving feats performed every day by emergency departments and ambulance services, the nation's emergency medical system as a whole is overburdened, underfunded, and highly fragmented, says a new series of three reports from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. As a result, ambulances are turned away from emergency departments once every minute on average, and patients in many areas may wait hours or even days for a hospital bed. Moreover, the system is ill-prepared to handle surges from disasters such as hurricanes, bombings, or disease outbreaks."
Following are the key findings and recommendations drawn from the three reports in the series, Hospital-Based Emergency Care: At the Breaking Point, Emergency Medical Services At the Crossroads, and Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains. To view the summary report, see Emergency Care Findings and Recommendations.
Key Findings:
1) Many emergency departments and trauma centers are overcrowded.
2) Emergency care is highly fragmented.
3) Critical specialists are often unavailable to provide emergency and trauma care.
4) The emergency care system is ill-prepared to handle a major disaster.
5) Emergency medical services and emergency departments are not well equipped to handle pediatric care.
Recommendations:
1) Create a coordinated, regionalized, accountable system.
2) Create a lead agency.
3) End emergency department boarding and diversion.
4) Increase funding for emergency care.
5) Enhance emergency care research.
6) Promote emergency medical services workforce standards.
7) Enhance pediatric presence throughout emergency care.