Factors associated with closures of emergency departments in the United States.
JAMA. 2011 May 18;305(19):1978-85
Authors: Hsia RY, Kellermann AL, Shen YC
Between 1998 and 2008, the number of hospital-based emergency departments (EDs) in the United States declined, while the number of ED visits increased, particularly visits by patients who were publicly insured and uninsured. Little is known about the hospital, community, and market factors associated with ED closures. Federal law requiring EDs to treat all in need regardless of a patient's ability to pay may make EDs more vulnerable to the market forces that govern US health care.
PMID: 21586713 [PubMed - in process]