OBJECTIVE: To describe primary care and hospital emergency utilization rates in Asturias health districts from 1994 to 2001 and to analyse their variability. METHODS: Hospital and primary care rates from 1994 to 2001 in the 8 Asturias health districts were estimated. Their variability was analysed using indirect standardisation and small area variation statistics. RESULTS: Almost 6.5 million of emergencies (hospitals: 43.8%) were attended in Asturias from 1994 to 2001. The average annual growth was 6.2% (primary care: 7.8%; hospitals: 5.1%) with differences among districts. Primary care variability was higher (variation coefficient: 0.38 and 0.27 in 1994 and 2001) than hospital variability (variation coefficient: 0.14 and 0.11) and it decreased in the period. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency Health Services utilization growth between 1994 and 2001, with strong variability among health districts.
OBJECTIVE: To describe primary care and hospital emergency utilization rates in Asturias health districts from 1994 to 2001 and to analyse their variability. METHODS: Hospital and primary care rates from 1994 to 2001 in the 8 Asturias health districts were estimated. Their variability was analysed using indirect standardisation and small area variation statistics. RESULTS: Almost 6.5 million of emergencies (hospitals: 43.8%) were attended in Asturias from 1994 to 2001. The average annual growth was 6.2% (primary care: 7.8%; hospitals: 5.1%) with differences among districts. Primary care variability was higher (variation coefficient: 0.38 and 0.27 in 1994 and 2001) than hospital variability (variation coefficient: 0.14 and 0.11) and it decreased in the period. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency Health Services utilization growth between 1994 and 2001, with strong variability among health districts.
Authors: Belén Sanz-Barbero; Laura Otero-García; Teresa Blasco-Hernández; Miguel San Sebastián Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2014-09-03 Impact factor: 2.655