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Characteristics of Non-Emergent Visits in Emergency Departments: Profiles and Longitudinal Pattern Changes in Taiwan, 2000–2010

Author

Listed:
  • Liang-Chung Huang

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, I-Lan 26042, Taiwan)

  • Wu-Fu Chung

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, I-Lan 26042, Taiwan
    School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan)

  • Shih-Wei Liu

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, I-Lan 26042, Taiwan
    School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan)

  • Jau-Ching Wu

    (School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
    Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan)

  • Li-Fu Chen

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, I-Lan 26042, Taiwan
    School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan)

  • Yu-Chun Chen

    (School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
    Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
    Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan)

Abstract

An increasing number of emergency department (ED) visits have posed a challenge to health systems in many countries, but an understanding of non-emergent ED visits has remained limited and contentious. This retrospective study analyzed ED visits using three representative cohorts from routine data to explore the profiles and longitudinal pattern changes of non-emergent ED visits in Taiwan. Systematic-, personal-, and ED visit-level data were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Average marginal effects were calculated to compare the effects of each factor. The annual ED visit rate increased up to 261.3 per 1000 population in 2010, and a significant one-third of visits were considered as non-emergent. The rapidly growing utilization of ED visits underwent a watershed change after cost-sharing payments between patients and medical institutions were increased in 2005. In addition to cohort effects resulting from cost-sharing payment changes, all factors were significantly associated with non-emergent ED visits with different levels of impact. We concluded that non-emergent ED visits were associated with multifaceted factors, but the change to cost-sharing payment, being female, younger age, and geographical residence were the most predictive factors. This information would enhance the implementation of evidence-based strategies to optimize ED use.

Suggested Citation

  • Liang-Chung Huang & Wu-Fu Chung & Shih-Wei Liu & Jau-Ching Wu & Li-Fu Chen & Yu-Chun Chen, 2019. "Characteristics of Non-Emergent Visits in Emergency Departments: Profiles and Longitudinal Pattern Changes in Taiwan, 2000–2010," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:11:p:1999-:d:237376
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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