RT Journal
A1 Mitka M
T1 EMergency physicians hope to be heard in debate over health system reform
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2009
FD July 22
VO 302
IS 4
SP 371
OP 373
DO 10.1001/jama.2009.1020
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1020
AB 
The report, by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), notes that overcrowding continues to be an issue that results in delays to patients who need urgent care (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09347.pdf). In 2006 (the most recent year studied), the average wait for a patient with a dire emergency to see a physician exceeded recommended time frames. Patients classified as requiring immediate care (to be seen in less than 1 minute) waited an average of 28 minutes while those classified as emergent (to be seen within 1-14 minutes) waited an average of 37 minutes.