CHCF ED Report

The California Health Care Foundation has issued a report and other materials on the use of emergency departments. This October, 2006 report citest an increase use driven primarily among the insured and ofoten for reasons that would not generally meet criteria for emergency care. Almost 1 in 15 Californians used an emergency department in the past year (the CDC reports a national percentage of 20%). Only 2% of Californians have been to the ED three or more times but their use constitutes 35 percent of all ED visits in California over the past year.

• Follow this link to the Report home page.
• Follow this link to the Report (pdf)
• Follow this link to the 51 page Harris poll (pdf)
  

Though a Harris Interactive poll, the Foundation identified four key factors in driving avoidable users to emergency departments.

• Lack of access to medical care outside the ED
• Lack of advice from physicians on how to handle acute medical conditions
• Lack of alternatives to the ED
• Positive attitudes toward EDs