Strategies to Reduce ED Crowding: Improve Patient Flow

With nearly half of all emergency departments operating at or above capacity and the majority of hospitals holding patients in the ED while they wait for an inpatient bed, hospitals are seeking ways to reduce ED crowding. Webinar participants discussed key strategies for improving patient throughput and reducing ED crowding. The strategies include: Forming a patient flow improvement team; Measuring ED performance; Selecting and implementing the right policies to improve patient flow; and Addressing implementation challenges.