The survey reported the following findings:
• More than three-quarters reported inadequate coverage for plastic surgery, hand surgery and neurosurgery. Specifically, more than 70 percent cited difficulties with neurosurgical coverage and 80 percent with hand surgery coverage.
• Nearly one-quarter reported loss or downgrade of the hospital’s trauma center designation.
• Sixty percent could not provide around-the-clock coverage in at least one medical specialty in the last four years.
• Almost one-quarter reported an increase in patients leaving the ED before they could be seen by the needed specialist.
• Teaching hospitals fared better, with 68 percent reporting inadequate coverage, compared with 78 percent for non-teaching hospitals.
Read the ACEP release on inadequate coverage in emergency departments.
Read more coverage of on-call arrangements in EDs.
– Los Angeles County Slashes On-Call Payments for Treating Uninsured
– 6 Best Practices for Improving Hospital Call Efficiency
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