Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD
Educational Pearls:
A study evaluated the patient-care impact and financial costs of holding patients in the ED, a nationwide issue
Prospective, observational study of acute stroke management
Conducted at a large urban, comprehensive stroke center
The study evaluated patients in multiple categories:
admitted to med/surg
admitted to med/surg but held in the ED
admitted to the ICU
Admitted to ICU but held in the ED
Examined the amount of time nurses and providers spent with each patient
This was analyzed in conjunction with the knowledge of each providers' salaries and the overhead costs of the med/surg unit, ICU, and ED
Conclusions:
Patients who required med/surg inpatient care but who were held in the ED resulted in a doubled daily cost
$1856 for med/surg inpatient boarding vs $993 for med/surg inpatient care
Patients who required ICU care but who were held in the ED also resulted in an increased daily cost, but this difference was not as large
$2267 for ICU inpatient boarding vs $2165 for ICU care
Holding in the ED negatively impacts patients since they receive less time from providers
Holding also results in increased financial costs
References
Canellas MM, Jewell M, Edwards JL, Olivier D, Jun-O'Connell AH, Reznek MA. Measurement of Cost of Boarding in the Emergency Department Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing. Annals of emergency medicine. Published online May 1, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.04.012
Summarized by Meg Joyce, MS1 | Edited by Meg Joyce & Jorge Chalit, OMS3
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