Frequent ED Users Not Abusing System, Studies Find

The common assumption that patients who frequent emergency departments are abusing the system is a misconception, according to a series of studies presented at a recent American College of Emergency Physicians meeting. Researchers at hospitals in California and four other states reviewed the health needs of patients who visited EDs frequently in set periods of time and found that these patients accounted for just 2.1% to 19.9% of all ED patients.

• "Docs Say Concerns About ER 'Frequent Flyer' Use Are Overblown" (Rao, "Capsules," Kaiser Health News, 10/10).
• "ACEP: Most ED 'Frequent Fliers' Need To Be There" (Neale, MedPage Today, 10/9).