SUPERLOTAÇÃO DOS SERVIÇOS DE EMERGÊNCIA: IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A SEGURANÇA DO PACIENTE E PARA O TRABALHO DA EQUIPE DE SAÚDE

Introduction: Overcrowding in emergency services is a reality that is likely to worsen, making it necessary to implement measures to ensure patient safety in the care provided. Objective: To describe the implications of overcrowding for patient safety and the work/daily routine of the healthcare team. Methodology: This is a bibliographic review article in which an exploratory, qualitative approach was used. The search for articles, theses, dissertations, book chapters was conducted in databases such as Lilacs BDNF, Medline, Scielo, and university repositories containing scientific journals. Publications were sought that addressed the topic in Portuguese, within the period of 2015 to 2024. The results yielded 34 articles related to the topic, of which 12 were selected for this study, in addition to the book by the Joint Commission International (JCI), “Managing Patient Flow: Strategies and Solutions for Overcoming Overcrowding.” Results and Discussion: It is well known that patient safety is a globally discussed topic and a recurring requirement for institutions undergoing accreditation processes. In this context are healthcare professionals, who, due to the nature of their work, are subject to committing/experiencing adverse events within their professional environment. Final Considerations: The consequences of overcrowding bring numerous implications for the work of healthcare professionals and for patient safety, such as reduced quality of care, exhaustion of healthcare professionals, increased risk of infections, inequality in access to care, impact on the efficiency of the healthcare system, and increased costs, making it a critical challenge for both public and private healthcare systems.