While the C-Suite certainly has some blame in this situation, I don't think it's as much as you're attributing to them. The main issues I see are limited staffing and lack of appropriate and timely follow up in PCP offices. I would estimate 50% or more of the patients going to the ED should be going to their primary care doctor. But they either don't have one because it's so hard to get an appointment, or they were given an appointment several weeks in the future and the patient decided to go to the ED instead.
A hospital can't just increase capacity overnight, it's a multi-year long process. With the influx of patients from St Vincent's, it's been a nightmare.
DrThrowaway4444 t1_iwsliad wrote
Reply to comment by itstheoneontheleft in Saw A Woman Die Waiting To Be Seen At UMASS ER Last Night by incandesantlite
While the C-Suite certainly has some blame in this situation, I don't think it's as much as you're attributing to them. The main issues I see are limited staffing and lack of appropriate and timely follow up in PCP offices. I would estimate 50% or more of the patients going to the ED should be going to their primary care doctor. But they either don't have one because it's so hard to get an appointment, or they were given an appointment several weeks in the future and the patient decided to go to the ED instead.
A hospital can't just increase capacity overnight, it's a multi-year long process. With the influx of patients from St Vincent's, it's been a nightmare.