Advance data
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Comparative Study
National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 1999 emergency department summary.
This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital emergency departments (ED's) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Highlights of trends in ED utilization from 1992 through 1999 are also presented. ⋯ During 1999, an estimated 102.8 million visits were made to hospital ED's in the United States, about 37.8 visits per 100 persons. The volume of ED visits increased by 14 percent from 1992 through 1999, though no trend was observed in the overall population-based visit rates. There was a significant increase in the visit rate for black persons 75 years of age and over. In 1999, persons 75 years of age and over had the highest ED visit rate and 41.5 percent of these patients arrived by ambulance. There were an estimated 37.6 million injury-related ED visits during 1999, or 13.8 visits per 100 persons. Seventy-four percent of injury-related ED visits were made by persons under 45 years of age. Injury visit rates were higher for males than females in each age group under 45 years. The case mix of visits at ED's changed since 1992, with a greater percent of visits presenting with illness rather than injury conditions. Abdominal pain, chest pain, fever, and headache were the leading patient complaints accounting for one-fifth of all visits. Acute upper respiratory infection was the leading illness-related diagnosis at ED visits. Increases were observed in visits where no complete diagnosis could be made (16.2 percent of visits in 1999). Diagnostic and/or screening services were provided at 89.0 percent of visits, procedures were performed at 42.5 percent of visits, and medications were provided at 72.5 percent of visits. Pain relief drugs accounted for 31.1 percent of the medications mentioned. Trend data from 1992 indicated that the use of medications at ED visits increased. In 1999, approximately 13 percent of ED visits ended in hospital admission. Facility-level data indicated that there is variation among hospital ED's with respect to case mix, number of services provided, and case disposition distributions, especially the percent admitted to the hospital.
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This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital outpatient departments in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, clinic, patient, and visit characteristics. ⋯ During 1998, an estimated 75.4 million visits were made to hospital outpatient departments in the United States, an overall rate of 28.0 per 100 persons. Visit rates did not vary by age except in a comparison of the 15-24 year old group with the 75 years and over age group. Black persons had higher rates of visits than white persons as did women compared with men. Of all visits made to hospital outpatient departments in 1998, 33.8 percent and 25.9 percent, respectively, listed private insurance and Medicaid as the primary expected source of payment, and 21.9 percent were made by patients belonging to a health maintenance organization. There were an estimated 7.1 million injury-related outpatient department visits during 1998.
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This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital emergency departments in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected patient and visit characteristics. ⋯ During 1998, an estimated 100.4 million visits were made to hospital emergency departments (ED's) in the United States, about 37.3 visits per 100 persons. Persons 75 years and over had the highest rate of ED visits. There were an estimated 37.1 million injury-related ED visits during 1998, or 13.8 visits per 100 persons. Seventy-four percent of injury-related ED visits were made by persons under 45 years of age. Injury visit rates were higher for males than females in each age group under 45 years. According to ICD-9-CM classification, 77.2 percent of injury visits were unintentional. About 71 percent of the ED visits involved medication therapy, with pain relief drugs accounting for 31.5 percent of the medications mentioned. Acute upper respiratory infection was the leading illness-related diagnosis at ED visits.
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This report presents demographic characteristics, service utilization, and primary admission diagnoses of elderly users of home health care services. Included are home health care services used by both current and discharged clients (called patients). These services are provided by home health care agencies and hospices. The focus of the report is on services used by both current patients and discharges aged 65 years and over. ⋯ The overall results of the survey indicate that, as in previous years, the elderly current patients and discharges were predominantly women, 75-84 years old, white, non-Hispanic, widowed, and most often lived in a private residence with members of their family. For elderly men and women, the most commonly used home health care service was skilled nursing services and the primary admission diagnosis was diseases of the circulatory system, including heart disease.
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This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital outpatient departments in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, clinic, patient, and visit characteristics. ⋯ During 1997, an estimated 77.0 million visits were made to hospital outpatient departments in the United States, an overall rate of 28.9 per 100 persons. Visit rates did not vary by age. Black persons had higher rates of visits than white persons. Of all visits made to hospital outpatient departments in 1997, 34.1 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively, listed private insurance and Medicaid as the primary expected source of payment, and 20.1 percent were made by patients belonging to a health maintenance organization. There were an estimated 7.1 million injury-related outpatient department visits during 1997.