A recently published study of ED APPs, residents, attendings, and nurses attempted to assess clinician's perspectives on how ED boarding impacts ED staff and patients. Authors performed a survey followed by focus group sessions to obtain qualitative insignts from participants.
All respondents associated boarding with feelings of burnout and self-reported poor satisfaction with communication and the process of boarding care.
Several key themes emerged which are outlined below:
Clinicians perceived that boarding leads to increased patient safety events.
Clinicians desired standardization for the boarding care process.
Clinicians felt they had a lack of knowledge, resources, and training to care for boarding patients.
Clinicians desired proactive bed and resource planning for boarding patients.
Clinicians advocated for improved communication among the team and to patients.
Clinicians identified a need for culture change regarding boarding care.
This publication highlights the negative workforce and patient safety effects of ED boarding. It amplifies the voices of our colleagues who work towards change to improve both the health of our wrokforce as well as that of our patients and the communities that we serve.
References
Loke D, et al. Clinicians’ Insights on Emergency Department Boarding: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Patient Care and Clinician Well-Being. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety 2023; 000:1-8.
