Health care leaders ask Missourians to reserve Emergency Rooms for emergency needs

Health care leaders are asking Missourians to reserve emergency departments for emergency needs in the weeks ahead.

EDs are overcrowded at most hospitals and care for illnesses of all kinds can be delayed.

The Missouri Hospital Association and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services say if you have a severe illness you should still go to the Emergency Room.

But they urge patients seeking routine care – including COVID-19 testing – to seek services in the appropriate environment, which will free staff to focus on critical patient care.