Description of Measure

For patients who had to be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, average time patients spent in the emergency department, before they were admitted to the hospital as an inpatient.

Why is this Important?

This shows the average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department–from the time they arrived to the time they left the emergency department for an inpatient bed. This number only includes patients who were admitted to the hospital as an inpatient. It doesn’t include those people who went home. Long stays in an emergency department before a patient is admitted may be a sign that the emergency department is understaffed or overcrowded. This may result in delays in treatment or lower quality care. Lower numbers are better.

Description of Measure

For patients who had to be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, average time patients spent in the emergency department, after the doctor decided to admit them as an inpatient before leaving the emergency department for their inpatient room.

Why is this Important?

This shows the average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department–from the time the doctor decided to admit them to the time they left the emergency department for an inpatient bed. Delays in transferring emergency department patients to an inpatient unit may be a sign that there’s not enough staff or there’s poor coordination among hospital departments. Long delays can also create more stress for patients and families.

Lower numbers are better.

Description of Measure

Average time patients spent in the emergency department before being sent home.

Why is this Important?

This measure shows the average (median) time in minutes that patients spent in the emergency department – from the time they arrived to the time they were sent home. It does not include patients who were later admitted to the hospital as inpatients, admitted for observation, transferred to another acute care hospital, or who left without being seen by a licensed provider. Long stays in the emergency department before a patient is sent home may be a sign that the emergency department is understaffed or overcrowded. This may result in delays in treatment, increased suffering for those who wait, and unpleasant treatment environments.

Lower numbers are better.

Description of Measure

Average time patients spent in the emergency department before they were seen by a healthcare professional.

Why is this Important?

For patients who were later sent home from the emergency department, this measure shows the average (median) time in minutes, from the time they arrived until the time they were seen by a healthcare professional. It does not include patients who were admitted to the hospital, who died in the emergency department, or who left without being seen. Delays in being seen by a healthcare provider may be a sign that the emergency department is understaffed or overcrowded. This may result in delays in treatment or lower quality care. In addition, long delays can create more stress for patients and families.

Lower numbers are better.

All descriptions and data sources are reported from Hospital Compare.

Data reported are based on discharges from Fourth Quarter 2012 through Third Quarter 2013

Description of Measure

Average time patients who came to the emergency department with broken bones had to wait before receiving pain medication.

Why is this Important?

For all patients 2 years and older who came to the emergency department with a broken arm or leg, this shows the average time they waited before receiving pain medication. Long waits before a patient is treated may be a sign that the emergency department is understaffed or overcrowded. For patients with broken bones, long waits without pain medication cause unnecessary increased suffering.

Lower numbers are better.