The evolving role of emergency departments in the United States
By: Kristy Gonzalez Morganti, Sebastian Bauhoff, Janice C. Blanchard, Mahshid Abir, Neema Iyer, Alexandria C. Smith, Joseph V. Vesely, Edward N. Okeke, Arthur L. Kellermann
Contributors: Bauhoff, Sebastian, author; Blanchard, Janice C., author; Abir, Mahshid, author; Iyer, Neema, author; Rand Corporation
Publisher: Rand
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Santa Monica, California
Language: eng
Number of pages: 63
ISBN-13: 9780833080790
Subjects: Hospital Emergency Service; Trends; Economics
Description: The research described in this report was performed to develop a more complete picture of how hospital emergency departments (EDs) contribute to the U.S. health care system, which is currently evolving in response to economic, clinical, and political pressures. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, it explores the evolving role that EDs and the personnel who staff them play in evaluating and managing complex and high-acuity patients, serving as the key decisionmaker for roughly half of all inpatient hospital admissions, and serving as ⁰́₋the safety net of the safety net⁰́₊ for patients who cannot get care elsewhere. The report also examines the role that EDs may soon play in either contributing to or helping to control the rising costs of health care.
Notes: "RAND Health."

"Research report. RR-280-ACEP."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 57-63).
Table of contents: title: Conceptual model of ED use; title: Methods; title: Findings; title: Discussion; title: Conclusions : implications for policy.