By MEREDITH MANDELL and HEATHER HADDON
HERALD NEWS

Two city hospitals are expected to see thousands more patients in their emergency rooms this year. And despite some concerns that care will be compromised because of longer waits and overworked staff, hospital officials say they can handle the increase and that more ER patients can be a good thing.

"It makes us feel better about our ER, even though we've gotten busier," said Dr. Mark Rosenberg, chairman of emergency medicine at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson.

"Most inner city, most urban teaching hospitals are overcrowded," he said. "One way to look at it is the analogy of, if you are going to Fifth Avenue to shop in the stores during Christmas, the businesses say, 'Wow it's great.' But if you are a patient waiting for health care, you may be frustrated with the long lines, but it's great for business."

The issue of overcrowded emergency rooms has come to the forefront as a number of financially struggling hospitals continue to close. The closures, combined with an aging population and other factors, mean emergency visits and waiting times are on the rise.

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