Emergency Department & Doctor Visits Topped 1 Billion in 2006

OPEN MINDS On-Line News Strategic Health Care News In 2006, there were about one billion emergency department and physician office visits. From 1996 to 2006, the number of visits to physician offices and hospital outpatient and emergency departments increased by 26%. About half of all non-obstetric emergency department visits resulted in admission for hospital inpatient services. In 1996, about 36% of emergency department visits resulted in hospital admission. Medicaid beneficiaries used the emergency department at a rate of 82 visits per 100 people. Consumers with private insurance used the emergency department at a rate of 21 visits per . . .