Abdominal pain was the most common diagnosis among Medicaid patients who visited the emergency department between four to six times in one year, according to a study in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Researchers studied the characteristics of Medicaid patients who visited the ED frequently, defined as four or more visits in one year that did not lead to a hospital admission. Here are their findings:
• Twelve percent of Medicaid patients who visited the ED were frequent ED users, accounting for 38 percent of all visits.
• Seventy-two percent of the frequent ED users visited the ED four to six times in one year.
• Twenty-six percent of the frequent ED users visited the ED seven to 17 times in one year.
• Two percent of frequent ED users visited the ED 18 or more times in one year.
• Among patients with seven or more ED visits in one year, the most common diagnosis was alcohol-related disorders.
• Patients who had 18 or more ED visits were more likely to be homeless and suffer from alcohol abuse compared with patients who had four to six ED visits a year.
More Articles on ED Utilization:
ED Capacity Will Need to Expand 10% to Meet Aging Population's Demands
Six States to Collaborate in Initiative Targeting Super-Utilizers
3 Strategies to Optimize the Value of Hospital EDs