Trends in outpatient emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic at a large, urban, academic hospital system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has critically affected healthcare delivery in the United States. Little is known on its impact on the utilization of emergency department (ED) services, particularly for conditions that might be medically urgent. The objective of this study was to explore trends in the number of outpatient (treat and release) ED visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study of outpatient emergency department visits from January 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020 using data from a large, urban, academic hospital system in Utah. Using weekly counts and trend analyses, we explored changes in overall ED visits, by patients' area of residence, by medical urgency, and by specific medical conditi

SUBMITTER: Giannouchos TV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7725055 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature