Trends in the utilisation of emergency departments in California, 2005-2015: a retrospective analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine current trends in the characteristics of patients visiting California emergency departments (EDs) in order to better direct the allocation of acute care resources.

Design

A retrospective study.

Setting

We analysed ED utilisation trends between 2005 and 2015 in California using non-public patient data from California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

Participants

We included all ED visits in California from 2005 to 2015.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We analysed ED visits and visit rates by age, sex, race/ethnicity, payer and urban/rural trends. We further examined age, sex, race/ethnicity and urban/rural trends within each payer group for a more granular picture of the patient population. Additionally, w

SUBMITTER: Hsia RY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6059325 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature