Decreased Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Emergency Department Wait Time in the United States

Abstract

Background: Previous data over an extended period indicated that Black and Hispanic patients waited significantly longer than their White counterparts to see a qualified practitioner in US emergency departments (EDs).Objective: The objective of this study was to assess recent trends and sources of racial and ethnic disparities in patient wait time to see a qualified practitioner in US EDs.

Mediators of Racial Differences in COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Uptake: A Cohort Study in Detroit, MI

“…Additional public health research could explore the determinants of hesitancy over time, using culturally sensitive measures, as there could also be many alternative reasons why NH Black and NH white Detroiters may have differences in vaccine uptake, including issues of access. These could include difficulties in transportation, time costs for obtaining a vaccine, and lack of insurance [21][22][23]. Addressing these inequities will require investments in areas such as increasing vaccine subsidies and insurance coverage, more local vaccine sites, as well as testing culturally and linguistically sensitive vaccination messages.…”

Disparities in Emergency Department Waiting Times for Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding

“…4,5 In addition, over the last decade, ED overcrowding and long wait times have been major health concerns. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Previously, it was reported that delayed ED visits for noncritically ill patients could result in a higher number of patients leaving before being seen by an ED provider leading to patient dissatisfaction. 13 Since the introduction of the Institute of Medicine report, several efforts have been made to raise awareness and develop broad-based policies to enhance health care quality, improve timeliness in EDs, and establish new guidelines to standardize the care process and reach equity.…”

“…14,15 Moreover, initiatives at different levels of health care were implemented to reduce ED wait times and eliminate the existing disparities. 10,15,16 For instance, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) task force introduced a "high-impact" solution targeting ED overcrowding, and the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 has led to higher insurance coverage. 17,18 Since then, several studies have assessed the provision of emergency care for adult and pediatric populations.…”

“…17,18 Since then, several studies have assessed the provision of emergency care for adult and pediatric populations. 6,[9][10][11][12][13][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Although some studies documented promising results in narrowing disparities and substantial improvements, 10,25 inequalities continue to persist in the care delivery process for diverse symptoms, including neurological, [26][27][28] respiratory, 29 cardiovascular, 30 and gastrointestinal disorders. 9 In addition, racial discrepancies in high acuity settings such as myocardial infarction or stroke have been well investigated, resulting in the development of multilevel policies and, consequently, positive outcomes narrowing the racial gap.…”

“…9 In addition, racial discrepancies in high acuity settings such as myocardial infarction or stroke have been well investigated, resulting in the development of multilevel policies and, consequently, positive outcomes narrowing the racial gap. 10 Despite these recent improvements, national US data regarding gastrointestinal disorders, particularly GI bleeding (GIB), are scarce. 9 Care for GIB is critically significant since prompt resuscitation is a crucial initial step.…”