Wait time for treatment in hospital emergency departments: 2009.

From 1999 through 2009, the number of visits to emergency departments (EDs) increased 32%, from 102.8 million visits in 1999 to 136.1 million visits in 2009 (1,2). In some hospitals, increased ED visit volume has resulted in ED crowding and increased wait times for minor and sometimes serious problems, such as myocardial infarction (3­7). This report describes the recent trend in wait times for treatment in EDs, and focuses on how wait times for treatment varied by two ED crowding measures: ambulance diversions and boarding of admitted patients.

Availability of pediatric services and equipment in emergency departments: United States, 2006.

OBJECTIVES: This report presents data on the availability of pediatric services, expertise, and supplies for treating pediatric emergencies in U.S. hospitals. METHODS: Data in this report are from the Emergency Pediatric Services and Equipment Supplement (EPSES), a self-administered questionnaire added to the 2006 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). NHAMCS samples nonfederal short-stay and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual estimates of pediatric services, expertise, and equipment availability in hospital emergency departments (EDs). RESULTS: In 2006, only 7.2 percent of hospital EDs had all recommended pediatric emergency supplies, and 45.6 percent had at least 85.0 percent of recommended supplies. EDs in children's hospitals and hospitals with pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) were more likely to meet guidelines for pediatric emergency department services, expertise, and supplies. About 74.0 percent of these facilities had at least 85.0 percent of recommended supplies, compared with 42.4 percent of other facilities. Among children's hospitals and hospitals with PICUs, 66.0 percent had 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access to a board-certified pediatric emergency medicine attending physician; such access was uncommon in other types of hospitals. In general, little change was noted in the availability of emergency pediatric supplies between 2002-2003, when the initial EPSES was conducted, and 2006.

Emergency department visits for chest pain and abdominal pain: United States, 1999-2008.

KEY FINDINGS: The number of noninjury emergency department (ED) visits in which abdominal pain was the primary reason for the visit increased 31.8%. The percentage of ED visits for which chest pain was the primary reason decreased 10.0%. Use of advanced medical imaging increased strongly for ED visits related to abdominal pain (122.6%) and chest pain (367.6%). The percentage of ED visits for chest pain that resulted in a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome decreased 44.9%. Chest and abdominal pain are the most common reasons that persons aged 15 years and over visit the emergency department (ED). Because EDs provide both emergency and nonemergency care, visits for these symptoms may vary in their acuity. Advanced medical imaging is often ordered to assist in both diagnosing and ruling out serious illness associated with these symptoms. This report describes trends in visits for chest and abdominal pain in adults and the seriousness of illness and use of imaging in these visits. All data shown are for persons aged 18 and over whose visit was not injury related.

National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2007 emergency department summary.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents data on U.S. emergency department (ED) visits in 2007, with statistics on hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. METHODS: Data are from the 2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which uses a national probability sample of visits to emergency departments of nonfederal general and short-stay hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: In 2007, there were about 117 million ED visits in the United States. About 25 percent of visits were covered by Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). About one-fifth of ED visits by children younger than 15 years of age were to pediatric EDs. There were 121 ED visits for asthma per 10,000 children under 5 years of age. The leading injury-related cause of ED visits was unintentional falls. Two percent of visits resulted in admission to an observation unit. Electronic medical records were used in 62 percent of EDs.