LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Emergency room overcrowding is a growing crisis not only in Michigan but also across the nation, with hospitals struggling to manage the influx of patients, leading to longer-than-usual wait times. Michigan finds itself among the top 15 states with the longest ER wait times, according to 2023 data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Five hour wait in Kalamazoo leaves father in agonizing pain.
Lucas Whitney, a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan, experienced this firsthand when he waited for five hours in Bronson Methodist Hospital’s ER according to a report from the Daily Mail.
His excruciating abdominal pain, which he described as the worst muscle cramp of his life, left him anxious and concerned about his health while surrounded by a packed waiting room.
Whitney said, “I was just horrified from all phases, I have a little daughter at home, I have a wife, is my appendix going to burst while I am here in the waiting room?”
Hospital triage systems organize patient priority.
Bronson Methodist Hospital, like many others, follows a triaging process to prioritize patients based on the severity of their condition. Despite efforts to expedite care for critical cases, Michiganders are waiting an average of two hours and 52 minutes in the ER, longer than the nationwide average of two hours and 40 minutes.
The nationwide trend of overcrowded emergency departments has an unprecedented numbers of patients flooding in to hospitals across the country. Last year, Bronson’s emergency department served 84,000 patients, exceeding its capacity by a significant margin. This surge includes patients with non-emergent conditions who could have sought care at local urgent care facilities instead.
Two day wait in Lansing’s Sparrow hospital puts cancer patient in the hallway.
Sparrow Hospital in Lansing is also facing challenges with prolonged wait times according to WILX. This is evidenced by Mary Mastroleo Lindbloom’s husband, John, who waited for more than two days in a hallway outside of the ER.
Mary shared at the time, “My husband is ill and he’s in ER in Sparrow. Been here since Sunday night and we’re in the hallway.” John, who has cancer and was waiting for a treatment for an open wound, when finally treated, was found to have other health issues once the hospital did lab work.
A national problem.
Factors at both Michigan hospitals and around the country that are contributing to extended waits include staffing shortages, complex cases, and a high volume of patients, particularly those with behavioral and mental health issues.
Nationwide, the severity of the problem varies by state, with Maryland topping the list for the longest hospital wait times, exceeding four hours on average. Long wait times not only inconvenience patients but also increase the risk of complications and negatively impact patient outcomes.
These delays reflect broader issues within the healthcare system, including burnout among healthcare workers, supply shortages, and gaps in access to preventive care services. Addressing these systemic challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including expanding access to alternative care sites like urgent care centers and implementing innovative solutions such as telehealth services.
Sparrow Hospital working on solutions.
In Michigan, efforts are underway by Sparrow Hospital to alleviate pressure on their emergency department with initiatives such as transforming old medical practices into urgent care sites and implementing online tools to provide patients with real-time information. Sparrow’s new online tool called “On My Way” gives patients seeking Sparrow emergency care the ability to see the average length of stay for visits at their locations as well as access to get information on how long their expected current wait time would be once they walk in the door.
Ultimately, improving emergency room wait times requires collaboration between healthcare providers, policymakers, and the community to ensure timely and efficient delivery of care to those in need. By addressing underlying institutional issues and investing in resources to support healthcare workers, they should be able to work towards a healthcare system that prioritizes patient safety and well-being.
