The doctor will see you . . . in a while

Washington Post, June 17, 2008

The first step to helping emergency room patients feel better could be telling them how long they'll have to wait, according to a national survey conducted by healthcare consulting firm Press Ganey. The survey of more than 1.5 million patients in over 1,600 ERs found that although satisfaction decreased the longer a patient waited, consistent communication with ER staff helped people feel comfortable and cared for.