San Diego Hospital Emergency Department Overcrowding Summit

On Oct. 27, the Sixth Annual San Diego Hospital Emergency Department Overcrowding Summit took place. The summit, which is hosted by SDCMS’ Emergency Medicine Oversight Commission, is chaired by Roneet Lev, MD, emergency medicine physician and SDCMS-CMA member since 1996.

More than 200 emergency department physicians and nurses, hospital CEOs, EMS providers, and hospital personnel involved in throughput came together to discuss best practices that address ED overcrowding. Physician panelists discussed common obstacles that delay emergency patient admission as well as problem-solving ideas utilized at area hospital emergency departments to reduce ED door-to-discharge/admission times.

In addition to the panels, Bruce Haynes, MD, medical director for the County’s Emergency Medicine Services and SDCMS-CMA member since 2006, talked about our stroke and STEMI systems, current bypass trends, and lessons learned from the recent electricity blackout. Eric McDonald, MD, the County’s deputy public health officer and SDCMS-CMA member since 2010, spoke on the trends and impacts pertussis, listeria, STDs, falls, and influenza have had on our emergency departments over the years. The afternoon focused on emergency department redesign strategies and how to plan for the future of San Diego.

For additional information about SDCMS’ Emergency Medicine Oversight Commission, contact James Beaubeaux at (858) 300-2788 or at James.Beaubeaux@SDCMS.org.