Response to “diverging Trends in Left Without Being Seen Rates During the Pandemic Era: Emergency Department Length of Stay May Be a Key Factor”

We appreciate the response to our recent article describing left without being seen (LWBS) rates and associated systematic slowdowns in a pediatric emergency department (ED) (1). We agree with other studies that the length of stay (LOS) a family experiences prior to being seen by a provider is one of the most important determinants in a family's decision to leave without being seen, while also acknowledging that LOS is itself the result of many interrelated input–throughput–output factors that encompass inpatient and ED occupancy, staffing, and efficiency (2–8).