Wait times

ER wait times across the country have been out of control.  People are waiting hours in the ED for an in-patient bed, not to mention hours in the waiting room just to get into the magical roller-coaster land of E.D.  5.5hrs at 05:15am on a Tuesday?  Seriously?  It's depressing to see that on my nights off, because this trend will probably continue all week.  Since February I had 1 (count 'em, ONE!) slow night, the night of July 3rd (going into the 4th, when everyone was relaxing).  What is it about all the other days & nights that makes people come out of the woodwork & en-masse travel to their local ER?  I understand we are the only hospital  in a county of 165K+ people, and that our sister hospital is in the adjoining county and maybe the doctor doesn't admit there or your mother/father/brother/aunt doesn't want to drive there... But seriously?  When is this going to let up just a little bit?  I'm waiting for the giant healthcare bubble to burst, and the purulent pus that will come out will affect people at all levels, nationwide, as well as local community health systems.  I'm actually nauseous and I don't have to go to work for another 13 hours.  Time to call the head shrinker today.