How do prudent laypeople define an emergency medical condition?

To determine the public's perception as to the general definition of an emergency medical condition (EMC), and to compare opinions between the general public and healthcare workers (HCW) on which specific medical conditions require emergency department (ED) care, a survey of people at 12 supermarkets and shopping malls in Northern California was conducted over a 6-month period in 1997. Individuals over age 18 were asked in person to complete a survey sheet. It asked participants to choose one of four definitions of "emergency medical condition." In addition, people were asked to determine which of 30 chief complaints they thought needed care in the ED. Demographic information was also collected. A second set of surveys asking the same questions was conducted among nonemergency healthcare providers at hospitals. Healthcare worker was defined as an MD, RN, LVN, or PA. A total of 1,018 members of the public and 126 healthcare workers completed the survey. EMC definitions selected by the public were: 1) an abbreviated federal EMTALA definition: a condition that may result in death, permanent disability, or severe pain (48.7%); 2) the federal definition plus other conditions preventing work (3.0%); 3) the federal definition plus any other conditions outside business hours (16.5%); and 4) any condition at any time as determined by the patient (31.6%). HCWs selected the following: definition 1 (71%); definitions 2 and 3 (0%); and definition 4 (27%). Definitions 1 and 3 were statistically different when comparisons were made between the public and HCWs. On the question of which of the 30 chief complaints needed care in an ED, agreement was seen between the public and HCWs for severe abdominal pain (94% vs. 99%, respectively) and severe chest pain (96% vs. 99%, respectively). However, the two disagreed on the need for ED care for severe headache (58% vs. 91%, respectively); mild chest pain (51% vs. 79%, respectively); and difficulty breathing (77% vs. 98%, respectively). No significant difference in opinions on the need for ED care was seen for some minor conditions: mild headache, sore throat, cough, flu symptoms, minor foot problems. No significant differences in answers occurred when age groups, occupations, or locations were compared. In conclusion, the public has split views concerning the general definition of an emergency medical condition. Approximately half uses a conservative federal definition, and half uses patient self-determined need as the definition. Data on which specific conditions need ED care provide additional insight on agreement between the public and HCWs on most problems. Both groups agree that many perceived minor medical complaints do not require ED care.