Overflowing ERs forcing patients to be diverted

06:49 PM PDT on Saturday, March 22, 2008

By JESSE JONES / KING 5 News


Video: Overflowing ERs forcing patients to be diverted
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EVERETT, Wash. - It's a trend that's impacting people across the Northwest.

Full to overflowing emergency rooms are forcing patients to be diverted from one hospital to another.

The Washington State Hospital Association says it doesn't know how many patients are diverted in the region.

But it happened to a family from Everett.

On Tuesday, 12-year-old Alex Webster, a brittle diabetic, was hit with a viral infection.

His family rushed him to the hospital to avoid brain swelling, a problem for diabetics when they're sick.

But Everett's Providence Hospital wouldn't take Alex.

Instead they sent him to Children's Hospital. But when Alex arrived at Children's, they were full.

Six hours later, Alex ended up at Swedish Hospital.

Sara Nakagawa, Alex's step-mother, couldn't believe it.

"I'm angry that the hospital that is meant for children didn't have room for him," she said.

Rob Menaul from the Washington State Hospital Association says the reasons for diversion include: The rising number of those without health insurance using ERs as their primary health care facility, the rising population and a nursing shortage.

KING

12-year-old Alex Webster

"If a person is in a major accident and they can't get to the nearest best facility, of course there would be some danger involved," he said.

Several individual hospitals, King County and the Washington State Hospital Association are all working on solutions to the problem.

http://www.nwcn.com/health/stories/NW_0 ... 0d271.html