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
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