You may be surprised by these statistics
Here are key findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on emergency department visits from 1997 to 2000:
- The most frequently recorded injury diagnoses was open wounds, which accounted for 18% of injuries. Injuries to the hand, wrist, and fingers were most common, comprising 13% of injuries.
- The African-American population used the ED at a rate 67% higher than of the white population in 2000.
- Stomach and abdominal pain, chest pain, and fever were the most common reasons for an ED visit.
- There was an increase in visits with a primary diagnosis of chest pain or abdominal pain for women 45 and over.
- There were 1.3 million visits due to adverse drug reactions or other complications from medical care in 2000.
- About 14% of patients arrived at the ED by ambulance.
- About 16% of the visits were deemed to be emergent (the patient should be seen within 15 minutes of arrival), and 31% of visits were classified as urgent (the patient should be seen within an hour of arrival).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2000 Emergency Department Summary.