Call for papers - Patient wait times in emergency departments

Guest Editors

Niamh Cummins, PhD, University of Limerick, Ireland
Chip-Jin Ng, MHA, MD, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
Katie Robinson, PhD, University of Limerick, Ireland

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 23 October 2025

BMC Emergency Medicine is calling for submissions to our Collection, Patient wait times in emergency departments. This Collection invites researchers to submit their work on strategies to reduce patient wait times in emergency departments. We welcome studies that explore patient flow optimization, efficiency in healthcare delivery, and the role of technology in enhancing triage systems and appointment scheduling. The goal is to identify effective solutions that improve patient satisfaction and overall healthcare outcomes.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Niamh Cummins, PhD, University of Limerick, Ireland

Dr Niamh Cummins is an Associate Professor in Public Health specializing in health services research with a focus on emergency medicine and paramedicine. Dr Cummins believes in research with real impact, findings that will inform policy and practice and ultimately influence population health and patient care. Her work has led to policy changes at the national level including the introduction of new models of care and updates in clinical practice guidelines. She is particularly interested in the integration of health services, clinical screening tools, and mental health. Her specialty is in building research capacity through networking, mentorship and peer-assisted learning.

Chip-Jin Ng, MHA, MD, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan

Dr Chip-Jin Ng is a renowned figure in the field of Emergency Medicine in Taiwan. He earned his Master’s degree in Health Administration in 2002. He has played a pivotal role in emergency response efforts during major disasters in Taiwan, such as the 921 earthquake and the Formosa Fun Coast explosion. Dr Ng is currently the Superintendent of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Emergency Medical Operations Center (EMOC) at the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). His leadership includes the establishment of Taiwan's Triage and Acuity Scale (TTAS), which positioned Taiwan as a leader in emergency medicine in Asia. His efforts in telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic also provided crucial medical consultations worldwide.

Katie Robinson, PhD, University of Limerick, Ireland

Professor Robinson is co-director of the Ageing Research Centre and Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Limerick, Ireland. She has conducted several studies on the experiences of older adults in Emergency Departments and collaborated on studies to improve older adult outcomes following an Emergency Department attendance. Currently, she is leading the development of a Core Outcome Set for studies involving older adults in Emergency Department settings (CREAT-ED), funded by the Health Research Board, Ireland.

About the Collection

BMC Emergency Medicine is calling for submissions to our Collection, Patient wait times in emergency departments. Patient wait times in emergency departments (EDs) have become a critical issue affecting healthcare delivery worldwide. Long wait times can lead to increased patient dissatisfaction, compromised care quality, and even adverse health outcomes. As healthcare systems strive to enhance efficiency and patient satisfaction, understanding the underlying causes of long wait times and exploring innovative solutions is essential for improving the overall patient experience in emergency medicine.

Factors contributing to prolonged wait times include inefficient triage systems, inadequate resource allocation, and suboptimal patient flow. Additionally, surges in patient attendance and high bed occupancy, which lead to delayed admissions due to exit block, further strain capacity and exacerbate wait times. Recent advances in this area have included the implementation of process improvement methodologies, the use of technology to streamline appointment scheduling, and the optimization of triage systems. These efforts, alongside strategies to better manage fluctuating patient volumes and reduce bottlenecks in discharge and admission processes, have demonstrated promising results in reducing wait times and improving patient flow.

Looking ahead, ongoing research in this field may lead to the development of more sophisticated healthcare delivery models that leverage technology and data analytics to optimize patient flow. Innovations such as real-time tracking systems, predictive analytics for patient arrivals, and enhanced communication tools could significantly reduce wait times and improve the overall efficiency of emergency care. By fostering a deeper understanding of these dynamics, we can create a more responsive and patient-centered healthcare system.

We invite contributions that examine a wide range of topics relating to patient wait times in emergency departments, including but not limited to:

Strategies for reducing wait times in emergency departments
Patient flow optimization techniques
Efficiency in healthcare delivery models
Role of technology in improving patient scheduling
Impact of triage systems on patient satisfaction
Management of patient surges and fluctuating demand in emergency care
Effect of high bed occupancy and delayed admissions (exit block) on patient flow and wait times
Approaches to improving capacity utilization and resource allocation in emergency departments

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Patient wait times in emergency departments" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.