Improving Quality of Care for Vacation-Related Emergency Department Visits: A Narrative Review of Patient Satisfaction and Contributing Factors.

Emergency departments (EDs) encounter substantial challenges during peak vacation periods, including increased patient volumes, limited access to medical histories, language and cultural barriers, insurance complexities, and disruptions in continuity of care. These factors strain emergency department operations, resulting in prolonged wait times, diagnostic errors, and compromised care quality. This study reviews the literature to identify patient satisfaction indicators and common challenges and evaluate strategies to improve patient outcomes during vacation-related emergency department visits. Findings highlight critical issues in staffing and resource allocation, leading to delayed care. Limited interoperability of electronic health records (EHRs) often prevents access to essential patient information, increasing diagnostic errors and unnecessary repeat testing. Language and cultural barriers contribute to higher rates of misdiagnosis and lower patient satisfaction, while insurance and payment issues create delays, particularly for out-of-network or international patients. Effective strategies to address these challenges include the use of predictive analytics for better forecasting of patient volumes, specialized triage protocols, public health education campaigns, and telemedicine for remote management of non-critical conditions. These interventions help reduce wait times, optimize resource allocation, and improve patient satisfaction. By implementing adaptive approaches, such as flexible staffing models and enhanced electronic health record use, healthcare systems can significantly improve care delivery and patient outcomes during vacation seasons.