NJ ACEP in an effort to push overcrowding and surge capacity to the forefront recently held a townhall meeting/press conference on the topic. This was through a grant from national ACEP.
The event was featured by the following press agencies:
The Record, NJ 101.5 radio and a letter to the editor in the Star Ledger, among others.
Highlights included the recent IOM report and the ACEP National Report Card, where NJ has received an A for quality medical care, an F for malpractice issues and C+ for patient access. The link will bring you to the site and you can see how your state ranks.
A recent article in the Annals of Emergency Medicine highlights the national scene and NJ plight even farther. For instance, 2 NJ hospitals are moving out of the local residential communities and to the major highway corridors. Is this a way to get out of the overcrowding situation? Is this purely to allow ambulances faster easier access or is it a way for them to avoid the burdens of charity care patients whom may not be able to easily get from their residential communities to the highway location? Interesting concept, not sure if it will hold to bear.
Surge Capacity Overcrowding Institute of Medicine