Health Policy Research Update
Individuals in poor overall health are more likely to use emergency departments frequently, regardless of insurance status or whether they have a primary source of health care, a study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found.
The authors suggest that people who use EDs four or more times annually also might frequently seek treatment in nonemergency settings, adding that the level of use might be necessary because of more serious health problems.
According to researchers, the use frequent of EDs could be addressed by creating policies to improve health care delivery services, which also would benefit less frequent ED users.
This week's Health Policy Research Update also includes studies examining:
- Awareness of language assistance laws and how they affect access to care;
- Preparedness for caring for a family members at home; and
- Perceptions of capacity shortages and strategies to alleviate the shortages.