Marian E Betz1, Guohua Li. 1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. mbetz@bidmc.harvard.edu
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic studies of injury morbidity have relied primarily on data from emergency departments (EDs) and hospital admissions. We seek to assess the incidences and characteristics of acute injuries treated at EDs and other ambulatory care settings. METHODS: Using data from the 2002 National Health Care Survey on initial visits for acute injuries to EDs, physician offices, and hospital outpatient departments, we estimated the frequencies and incidence rates of medically attended injury by patient characteristics and care setting. RESULTS: In the United States in 2002, 76 million nonfatal acute injuries received initial medical attention at EDs (46.2%), physician offices (47.8%), and outpatient departments (6.0%). The overall annual incidence rate of medically attended injury was 26.8 per 100 population (95% confidence interval 24.4 to 29.7). Falls accounted for 16.7% of all medically attended injuries. Injury patients who were black or uninsured were significantly more likely to visit EDs than other care settings for treatment. More than 2.4 million (3.2%) injury patients were admitted to hospitals, 96.6% of them through EDs. CONCLUSION: Fewer than half of all medically attended acute injuries in the United States receive initial treatment in EDs. Injury severity and characteristics vary among care settings.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic studies of injury morbidity have relied primarily on data from emergency departments (EDs) and hospital admissions. We seek to assess the incidences and characteristics of acute injuries treated at EDs and other ambulatory care settings. METHODS: Using data from the 2002 National Health Care Survey on initial visits for acute injuries to EDs, physician offices, and hospital outpatient departments, we estimated the frequencies and incidence rates of medically attended injury by patient characteristics and care setting. RESULTS: In the United States in 2002, 76 million nonfatal acute injuries received initial medical attention at EDs (46.2%), physician offices (47.8%), and outpatient departments (6.0%). The overall annual incidence rate of medically attended injury was 26.8 per 100 population (95% confidence interval 24.4 to 29.7). Falls accounted for 16.7% of all medically attended injuries. Injurypatients who were black or uninsured were significantly more likely to visit EDs than other care settings for treatment. More than 2.4 million (3.2%) injurypatients were admitted to hospitals, 96.6% of them through EDs. CONCLUSION: Fewer than half of all medically attended acute injuries in the United States receive initial treatment in EDs. Injury severity and characteristics vary among care settings.
Authors: Stephen L Luther; James A McCart; Donald J Berndt; Bridget Hahm; Dezon Finch; Jay Jarman; Philip R Foulis; William A Lapcevic; Robert R Campbell; Ronald I Shorr; Keryl Motta Valencia; Gail Powell-Cope Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-04-16 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: James A McCart; Donald J Berndt; Jay Jarman; Dezon K Finch; Stephen L Luther Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2012-12-15 Impact factor: 4.497