To make matters worse, more than half (54 percent) of the visits were for non-emergencies, according to the report.
A variety of factors have contributed to the increase in ER visits, including people gaining insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, a lack of health literacy and a dearth of primary care physicians who accept Medi-Cal.
“We have seen, through our needs assessment process, that of those surveyed, approximately 56 percent don’t know when to use an [emergency department] versus urgent care versus a clinic. Over 40 percent of those surveyed don’t have a primary care physician,” Dimitrios Alexiou, president of the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, told the Union-Tribune.
Wilma Wooten, MD, the county’s public health officer, is working with hospitals in the area to get a plan together to reduce non-emergency ER visits, and doesn’t believe the increased volume has affected patient safety, she told the Union-Tribune.
More articles on patient flow issues:
Communication is key to patient flow
Ambulances are more likely to be diverted when the patient inside is black, study finds
Capacity problems at Florida Hospital Orlando keep patient in hallway for 2 days
