Trends of Emergency Department Use by Uninsured Individuals for Non-Urgent Health Care Conditions

Abstract Roughly one-third of all emergency department (ED) visits by both insured and uninsured individuals in the United States (US) are for non-urgent health conditions that can be effectively treated at a reduced cost by a primary care provider (Hossain, 2011). The purpose of this study is to identify trends of ED visits by uninsured individuals. This study is a secondary data analysis of patient visits to a midwest community ED. This study examined the services provided in the ED for non-urgent visits that could be provided at a less costly and non-urgent care facility, such as a Community Health Care Clinic (CHC), Nurse Managed Health Center (NMHC), or prompt care. Implications of the analysis are discussed, including community resources needed to reduce non-urgent ED visits and the associated cost burdens of uncompensated health care dollars on this midwest community