Characteristics of All, Occasional, and Frequent Emergency Department Visits Due to Ambulatory Care–Sensitive Conditions in Florida

• DOI: 10.1097/jac.0b013e318244d222
• Publication Date: 2013-07-04T00:06:00Z
• Authors: Askar S. Chukmaitov; Anqi Tang; Henry J. Carretta; Nir Menachemi; Robert G. Brooks
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Adolescent; Primary Health Care; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Middle Aged; Health Services Accessibility; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Logistic Models; 0302 clinical medicine; Child, Preschool; Ambulatory Care; Florida; Humans; Female; Child; Emergency Service, Hospital; Aged; Quality of Health Care

We studied characteristics of all, occasional, and frequent emergency department (ED) visits due to ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs). used a cross-sectional, split-sample design with multivariate logistic regressions using encounter-level, all-payer ED data from all Florida hospitals for the year 2005. evaluated associations key patient characteristics, utilization, availability primary care physicians in area, ACSCs. concluded that factors associated use ACSCs were similar occasional users. Therefore, universal strategies reduction overutilization by increasing access to, timeliness, quality patients likely experience should be used.