The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) is urging Governor Shapiro to address the dire situation of emergency department overcrowding facing both rural and metropolitan communities across the Commonwealth.  The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) defines overcrowding as “…a situation that occurs when the identified need for emergency services exceeds available resources for patient care in ED, hospital, or both.”

The breadth of this issue is daunting - an issue that has taken decades to develop, only to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We ask you to share your personal story of being affected by emergency department overcrowding and ask your legislators to urge the Governor to address the root causes and ensure Pennsylvania citizens have better access to care, lower mortality rates and increased quality of care.