Support for a Waiting Room Time Tracker: A Survey of Patients Waiting in an Urban ED

• Published in: The Journal of emergency medicine 2013, Vol.44 (1), p.225-229
• Main Authors: Shaikh, Sanober B., MD, Witting, Michael D., MD, MS, Winters, Michael E., MD, Brodeur, Michael N., BS, Jerrard, David A., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Crowding; Emergency; emergency service; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Female; hospital; Hospitals, Urban - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; patient satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Refusal - statistics & numerical data; Waiting Lists; waiting times; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0736-4679; 2352-5029
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2012.02.053

Abstract Background Emergency Department (ED) crowding and inpatient boarding lead to lengthy wait times for patients, which may cause them to choose to leave without being seen. A new initiative to improve communication with patients is to provide an estimated wait time with a “time tracker” display, but it is unclear whether ED patients would welcome this. Objective To estimate the proportion of ED patients who would favor a time tracker display. Methods This survey-based study was conducted from March to July 2010 at an urban academic center. After being triaged, patients were asked to answer a multiple-choice questionnaire, asking their preference toward a time tracker display. Results Of the 375 patients who were approached, 340 (91%) participated. Two hundred fourteen of them (63%) preferred an ED with a time tracker, 53 (16%) were unsure, and 73 (21%) did not prefer an ED with a time tracker. Patients with low-acuity conditions (Emergency Severity Index [ESI] 4 or 5) were 1.2 times more likely (95% confidence interval 1.0–1.4) to favor a time tracker than those with higher acuity (ESI 3). Preference was not related to race, age, insurance status, or employment. Conclusions The majority of patients in our study preferred an ED with a time tracker display (63% for vs. 21% against). Support for a time tracker was higher among patients triaged with lower ESI levels (4 or 5). A time tracker is viewed positively by many patients and may be a beneficial addition in the ED waiting room.