Emergency room patients

Dimension of care: Efficient care Efficient icon

Why we measure it - We measure the length of time patients spend in the emergency room to make sure we provide care quickly.

What this means - The chart shows more than 65 percent of patients in our emergency room are seen by a doctor, treated and able to go home in 2.5 hours or less. This does not include patients who are too sick or hurt to go home and must be admitted to the hospital.

Last fall, our emergency room was under renovation. This reduced the number of treatment rooms and increased wait times. In late 2011, we also had many days with a large number of patients due to seasonal illnesses. When we have more patients than usual, some patients may need to wait longer for care.

Our renovation was finished in January, and 36 treatment rooms now are open. The renovation also improved how patients move through the department. This will reduce wait times moving forward.

About the data - We collect data on how long each patient is in our emergency room. These data are used to determine the percent of patients who can and do go home in 2.5 hours or less.

How we provide the best care

  • Children's is a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons.
  • Trauma surgeons and medical specialists are in the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our patients have quick access to the doctors they need.
  • We offer seven urgent care locations in Southeast Wisconsin region. Urgent care is for illnesses or injuries that you normally would get care for at your regular doctor's office. The emergency room is for more serious illnesses and injuries. When you use urgent care for less serious issues, this may get you care quicker, or reduce your costs.
  • Learn more about our emergency room >>>

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