Only 3.3% of ED visits are actually avoidable

Only 3.3% of ED visits are actually avoidable


POSTED IN: Featured Advocacy,

Fierce Healthcare (8/31, Minemyer, 146K) reports that just “3.3%” of visits to the emergency department (ED) “are truly ‘avoidable,’” researchers found after examining “data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2005 to 2011 that included more than 115,000 records representing 424 million emergency department visits.”  The study’s conclusions “challenge the commonly held belief that many people visit the ER needlessly, said Rebecca Parker, MD, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, in an announcement.” Dr. Parker said, “Most patients who are in the emergency department belong there and insurers should cover those visits. The myths about ‘unnecessary’ ER visits are just that – myths.”