Boarding Resolution Discussed at Medical Society Meeting

A PaACEP resolution authored by Past President (2003-2004) Theodore Christopher, MD, FACEP, requesting the definition of boarding time was debated at the October 24-25 Pennsylvania Medical Society House of Delegates Meeting in Hershey.

Recommended for adoption was a policy statement that would define the “boarded ED admitted patient as one who remains in an ED in Pennsylvania more than two hours after physician notification to admit.”

After extensive floor discussion concerning patient safety, physician sign-off, and liability concerns, the resolution was referred to the Society’s board of trustees for a final decision. The need for defining a boarded patient was not questioned during floor debate.