Crowding

Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors January 2006
 
Crowding occurs when the identified need for emergency services exceeds available resources for patient care in the emergency department (ED), hospital, or both.

The causes of crowding are multifactorial and span the entire health care delivery system.

Crowding manifests itself in significant delay in evaluation and treatment of emergency patients, boarding of admitted patients in the ED, treating patients in non-treatment areas such as hallways, and patients leaving prior to completion of medical treatment.