User Characteristics of a Low-Acuity Emergency Department Alternative for Low-Income Patients
Autor: | Michael L Amashta, Muhammad M Hossain, Maria A Massey, Sarah E Kim, Sara Heinert, Melody Mumford |
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Rok vydání: | 2020 |
Předmět: |
Male
Low income Emergency Medical Services Psychological intervention MEDLINE lcsh:Medicine Medical Overuse Primary care 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Chart review Health care Humans Medicine 030212 general & internal medicine Poverty Original Research Retrospective Studies Health Equity business.industry lcsh:R lcsh:Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid 030208 emergency & critical care medicine lcsh:RC86-88.9 General Medicine Emergency department Middle Aged Patient Acceptance of Health Care medicine.disease Socioeconomic Factors Emergency Medicine Female Illinois Medical emergency Emergency Service Hospital business Delivery of Health Care Healthcare system |
Zdroj: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol 21, Iss 6 (2020) Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
ISSN: | 1936-900X |
Popis: | Author(s): Heinert, Sara W.; Mumford, Melody; Kim, Sarah E.; Hossain, Muhammad M.; Amashta, Michael L.; Massey, Maria A. | Abstract: Introduction: Emergency department (ED) use for healthcare that can be treated elsewhere is costly to the healthcare system. However, convenience settings such as urgent care centers (UCC) are generally inaccessible to low-income patients. Housing an UCC within a federally qualified health center (FQHC UCC) provides an accessible convenience setting for low-income patients. In 2014 a FQHC UCC opened two blocks from an ED in the same health system. Our goal was to compare characteristics, access to care, and utilization preferences for FQHC UCC and low-acuity ED patients through retrospective chart review and prospective surveying.Methods: We completed a retrospective chart review of all patients from March 1, 2018–March 1, 2019, and compared characteristics of low-acuity ED patients (N = 3,911) and FQHC UCC patients (N = 12,571). We also surveyed FQHC UCC patients (N = 201) and low-acuity ED patients (N = 198) from January–July 2019.Results: Half of FQHC UCC patients had private insurance. Of ED patients, 29% were aware of the FQHC UCC. Both groups had similar rates of primary care providers. The most common reason for choosing the ED was perceived severity, and for choosing a FQHC UCC was speed.Conclusion: These findings show similarities and differences between these two patient populations. Future research is needed to determine utilization patterns and in-depth reasons behind them. Interventions that help patients decide where to go for low-acuity care may create more utilization efficiency. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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