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Destinee Heath
Ms. Crist
English 4
October 13, 2015
Changes of Todays Emergency Departments
How have emergency rooms changed over the years? The changes and improvements
that have transformed into the present emergency rooms we use today are still faced with
problems. The major problems emergency rooms are facing today are, the emergency medical
system stretched beyond capacity, increases in emergency departments demands are driven by
patients seeking care for non-urgent problems, and conditions of the lack and quality of patient
care.
The capacity of the emergency departments are beyond stretched making this the number
one major problem. Consider that From 1994 to 2004, visits to hospital emergency departments
increased from 93.4 million to 110.2 million-an 18 percent jump. Meanwhile, the numbers of
hospitals, hospital beds, and emergency departments have declined significantly (John S.
O'Shea, M.D.). Patients highly value the demand of timely access to a quality emergency care.
Unfortunately, the overloaded emergency departments, ambulance access, and the lack of
providers enable patients that demand. For example A large number of hospitals, inpatient
beds, and emergency departments have closed during the past 10 years in the USA. In 1992 there
were around 6000 hospitals with emergency departments and there are now less than 4000.
(Robert Schafermeyer)

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Another major problem that emergency departments are facing is the demands of
patients. Emergency rooms are to admit and treat every patient, require ambulance services, and
provide care to anyone needing emergency care regardless of how server. A number of patients
who visit the Emergency Department do not require the level of care that an emergency room
provides. For example In Maryland patients with non-urgent medical problems account for over
40 percent of ED visits (The Crisis in America's Emergency Rooms and What Can Be Done).
Those with minor emergency are using time that could be used for those with major emergencies
rather than just going to a medical center. Allowing the emergency rooms to crowd and making
those wait. But because its a federal law, its complicated to find a solution.
The lack and quality of patient care is also a major problem with emergency rooms today.
The stay of the patient is important but the time a patent is spending at the hospital is even more
important. Patients should be provided the quality care and satisfaction but should not extend
over 6 hours. The longer a patient stays the more limitations it puts on impatient beds, these
needed for those in intensive care. Not only is time a problem but the staff as well. With the few
staff members they have on the floor patients are not getting the treatment they need in the matter
of time, which is extending their stay. The crowding of emergency rooms dont give time for
doctors to do their job efficiently. As mentioned by Neil Wagner, The problem doesn't seem to
be due to patients not being treated quickly enough. It seems more a consequence of
overcrowded or understaffed emergency rooms leading to poor diagnosis and treatment when
patients finally do get to see a doctor.
Due to the overcrowding of Emergency Room Departments there has been a decrease in
the number of staff available, the demands of patents, and the quality care they receive are the
main problems American is facing today. Though there were many problems over the years as

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well, time has always been the main problem. How long of a stay or wait? How long for a
treatment? How long to see the doctor? In the end time is going to be the difference between life
and death.