An analysis of waiting times in a pediatric emergency department.

Waiting times in a pediatric emergency department were studied using direct observations of patients and health providers on 14 separate days. The mean waiting time (from entry to first physician contact) of the 216 children studied was 49 minutes. Time spent in the waiting room was increased by both the nonavailability of a nurse and the nonavailability of an examining room, and was decreased by the severity of the patient's illness. Time spent in the examination room waiting for the physician was related to the availability of the physician and the number of patients concurrently registered in the emergency department as well as the severity of their complaint. Recommendations for decreasing waiting time, based on the observations, are made. Although each setting is unique, the study provides a model for the analysis of waiting patterns in similar facilities.