Overcrowding in Emergency Departments: Causes, Consequences and Solutions

A patient clutches their chest in anguish, surrounded by the constant hum of ringing phones and hurried footsteps in a crowded emergency department (ED). Hours pass as care remains just out of reach. On the other side of the room, a nurse, overwhelmed and overworked, juggles the demands of a packed unit. This is the reality of ED overcrowding—a growing crisis that threatens patient safety and strains healthcare systems worldwide