News To Know: At The Breaking Point

Crowding in hospitals is reaching record levels. With more and more people using the Emergency Room for primary care, a greater number of patients are forced to deal with diminishing resources. One tactic hospitals are taking is to house some patients in their hallways to reduce overcrowding. It is troubling to think that people with serious health conditions are being forced to stay in hallways with only a privacy screen separating them from the commotion of a busy hospital. However, studies are showing that this strategy may not have any serious medical consequences and could actually be an improvement over simply packing patients into the E.R.