Boarding
Formal Definition
A patient waiting in the ED for an inpatient bed after admission has been decided.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Patient is boarding" — they're admitted but still in the ED, often for many hours.
Example
""Boarding times are up — we have 12 admitted patients still in the ED, some waiting since yesterday morning. Boarding is a major strain on ED resources.""
Clinical Context
Boarding is a system problem, not a clinical one. Boarded patients are typically stable (or they'd be in a resuscitation bay) but still require monitoring, meds, and nursing care. It's a known driver of ED crowding and poor outcomes.
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