Bill that could cut emergency room waits reaches governor’s desk

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A bill approved by the Legislature and now on the governor’s desk could substantially cut waiting times in hospital emergency rooms, says the measure’s author, Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance).

Assembly Bill 911 would direct hospitals to put in place plans to reduce emergency room overcrowding, based on studies of how many people are waiting during any given, four-hour block of time.

‘With record high unemployment rates, the loss of health insurance and the uncertainty of economic recovery, the ER safety net is being stretched to its breaking point,’ said Robert Rosenbloom, president of the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, a major backer of Lieu’s bill.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill, his office said.

-- Marc Lifsher