In order to ensure prompt patient access to emergency and inpatient medical services,
The New York Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (New York ACEP) respectfully requests that legislative measures are taken to reduce hospital crowding and ambulance diversion in New York State.

Crowding in Emergency Departments is an increasing problem in New York
State and nationally. Recent surveys by the New York State Department of Health and
New York ACEP show that even absent the on-going threat of terrorism, New York's hospitals lack the current capacity to respond to emergency patient needs and emergency department volume.

Further, the surveys show that hospital crowding and ambulance diversion are significant problems in nearly every geographic area of the State and are not simply due to episodic or seasonal events. In some institutions the situation has reached crisis proportions. Due to capacity and resource constraints within hospitals, care is delayed for waiting patients or patients are diverted to other hospitals, requiring travel at significant distances in an emergency.

Continuity and quality of care are being compromised. Ambulances are being diverted and in some cases patients are not being transported to the hospital of their choice, also denying them access to their private physicians. Additionally, patients who have been seen and admitted to the hospital are being boarded, awaiting inpatient beds for inordinate amounts of time, while being cared for by emergency department staff in hallways without comforts like a bathroom, mattress, call light, privacy or confidentiality.

The problems associated with hospital crowding and ambulance diversion must be addressed through legislation in order to ensure timely access to the highest quality of care for all patients who seek emergency medical services. The New York State Department of Health has issued guidelines for reducing hospital crowding and ambulance diversion. New York ACEP strongly supports legislation to codify these guidelines into law and to create a mechanism to implement and enforce these directives, including patient and health care provider incident reporting and periodic inspections by the Department of Health.

Emergency Departments are an essential part of the State's health care safety net.
Hospital crowding results in the reduction of timely patient access to necessary
services, as well as hinders an emergency department's ability to maintain emergency preparedness. New York ACEP represents over 1,500 physicians statewide who are one of the largest indigent care providers in the state, serving all patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We respectfully request your support for legislation to reduce hospital crowding and ambulance diversion.