Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is considering legislation (AB 911) that would create a new system for monitoring overcrowding in the state's emergency departments, the Sacramento Bee reports.
ED traffic rose by 12% year-to-year during the first half of 2009, according to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and is expected to increase if the H1N1 influenza becomes more widespread.
The measurement system would be based on:
- How many people are in ED waiting rooms;
- How many available beds the department has;
- How quickly the patients are seen; and
- Other variables.
The bill, by Assembly member Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), was easily approved by the Assembly and Senate.
Gov. Schwarzenegger has until Sunday to sign or veto the bill, or it will become law without his signature.
Support, Opposition
The California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians supports passage of the measure, but the state Department of Public Health opposed the bill in a letter sent to Lieu in June.
The California Hospital Association has taken a neutral stance on the current measure, but opposed an earlier version of the bill (Calvan, Sacramento Bee, 10/7).