The etiology of medical gridlock: causes of emergency department overcrowding in New York City [see comments] NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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The etiology of medical gridlock: causes of emergency department overcrowding in New York City [see comments]

J Emerg Med. 1990 Nov-Dec;8(6):785-90. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/91258794
Gallagher EJ; Lynn SG; Emergency Department, Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, Albert; Einstein College of Medicine, NY 10461.

Abstract: Overcrowding of emergency departments in New York City is the most apparent symptom of a crumbling health care system. There is a growing need for the care of a largely impoverished population suffering from an increasing prevalence of AIDS, substance abuse, and psychiatric disease. Institutions crippled by critical shortages of inpatient beds and nurses lack the resources to meet this rising demand. Although the epidemic of medical gridlock began in New York City, it is spreading rapidly to involve other areas of the country. Short-term efforts to resolve this crisis have thus far been unsuccessful. Long-range solutions are likely to be costly and may require a reconfiguration of societal health care priorities.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY Adult Bed Occupancy/TRENDS Emergency Service, Hospital/MANPOWER/*UTILIZATION Female Health Services Needs and Demand/TRENDS Hospitals, Municipal/UTILIZATION Human New York City/EPIDEMIOLOGY Nursing Staff, Hospital/SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION Poverty Psychotic Disorders/EPIDEMIOLOGY Substance Abuse/EPIDEMIOLOGY Time Factors JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/epidemiologyadultbedoccupancy/trendsemergencyservice,hospital/manpower/
Comment in: J Emerg Med 1990 Nov-Dec;8(6):773-4 Comment in: J Emerg Med 1992 Jan-Feb;10(1):93-4
910930
M9190666

Copyright © 1991 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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