Emergency Room Boarding Delays: What Male Patients with Urinary Incontinence Need to Know

The Impact of Hospital Bed Boarding on Vulnerable Patient Groups

Emergency department (ED) boarding—where admitted patients wait hours or days for an inpatient bed—remains a widespread problem across U.S. hospitals. A study published in JAMA analyzing over three million ED visits revealed that more than 53% of patients needing admission waited four hours or longer for an inpatient bed, with some enduring delays exceeding 24 hours.

These systemic handoff bottlenecks disproportionately impact older individuals and those managing complex health conditions. Over 54% of patients experiencing significant delays without inpatient management were aged 65 or older. Longer wait times were especially pronounced in safety-net hospitals and academic medical centers treating higher volumes of Medicare and Medicaid recipients.

For older men managing chronic conditions such as urinary incontinence or acute urinary retention, prolonged ED boarding poses distinct clinical risks. Extended stays in emergency hallways or holding areas complicate routine care, medication schedules, and proper hygiene maintenance. Hospital leadership must prioritize operational strategies and resource allocation to safeguard vulnerable patients during care transitions.

Holohan, M. (2026, August 20). Emergency room patients often wait 4 hours or more for a hospital bed—some more than a day. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/emergency-room-patients-often-wait-4-hours-or-more-hospital-bed-some-more-day