Emergency Department Boarding Stories

"We are the only free-standing children's hospital in [state]. We have approximately 47 beds, including both 11 in a dedicated mental/behavioral health zone and ten 'fast track' beds. While we have struggled for years with an annual school-year crush of patients with behavioral health problems—as many, none of whom can remain in the waiting room—this fall we have also had a dramatic rise in young children with acute respiratory viral illnesses, many requiring hospitalization for treatments and supplemental oxygen.

We use every available space...as we cannot manage that volume of inpatients while working to see all the other children with acute injuries and illnesses.

Twice recently, we have had 24 medical boarders and as many as 125 patients in the department, with more than 30 in the waiting room. We use every available space, and have enlisted help for our hospitalist service as we cannot manage that volume of inpatients while working to see all the other children with acute injuries and illnesses. We use every available space and have enlisted help for our hospitalist service as we cannot manage that volume of inpatients while working to see all the other children with acute injuries and illnesses."