Emergency Department Boarding and the Strain on the Health Care Safety Net

June 19, 2023 Government Relations

Congressional briefing to be held in Washington, D.C. 

WHAT: Emergency nurses and physicians are sounding the alarm: the number of patients “boarding,” or held in the emergency department while waiting for care, has reached a crisis level. Unfortunately, patients with mental health needs are disproportionately affected.

Please join the American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Nurses Association, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness to hear directly from emergency physicians, emergency nurses and patient advocates about boarding’s impact on patient care and our health care safety net.

ACEP has written the White House about the dangers facing patients and care teams and collected more than 140 troubling stories directly from emergency physicians on the frontlines. Still, wait times and staffing shortages are worse today than ever before, overwhelming hospitals, exacerbating burnout in the health care workforce and putting patient lives and well-being at risk.

OPEN TO THE PRESS.

WHO: Leadership from ENA, ACEP and NAMI sharing their experience with boarding in emergency departments

WHERE: 454 Cannon HOB 
                Washington, D.C.

WHEN:    Wednesday, June 21 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

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***Media wishing to cover the event must RSVP to sarnoff@acep.org ***

 

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research, public education, and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of its 40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150 million people they treat on an annual basis. For more information, visit www.acep.org and www.emergencyphysicians.org

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Join the conversation at NAMI.org | Facebook.com/nami | Instagram.com/namicommunicate | Twitter.com/namicommunicate | TikTok.com/@nami | LinkedIn.com/company/nami | YouTube.com/NAMIvideo #IAmNAMIPride

 

The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.

ENA Media Contact

Morgan Wietecha

Media Relations Strategist

morgan.wietecha@ena.org