The effect of emergency department boarding on order completion.

Coil CJ, Flood JD, Belyeu BM, Young P, Kaji AH, Lewis RJ. Ann Emerg Med. 2015 Dec 3; [Epub ahead of print].

When patients already designated as hospitalized remain as boarding in the emergency department, it poses a challenge for staff workflow as well as safety concerns for patients. This case-control study identified missed care and delayed care more frequently for boarded patients than other emergency department patients, adding to the criticism of this common practice.