ED management : the monthly update on emergency department management
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A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be used to benchmark your department against national averages and offer explanations for what management might call "poor performance." For example: One-third of EDs cite staffing shortages or overcrowding as caused of diversion. Does your ED suffer from one--or both? What are your nursing vacancies? Half of EDs in metropolitan areas had more than 5% of their nursing positions vacant. Since 8% of the hospitals nationwide are not allowed to go on diversion, ED crowding is not just a diversion issue.