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The objective of this study was to determine the effect of insurance coverage, race, age, and/or fever on the utilization of the Emergency Department (ED). It was hypothesized that noninsured minority children with a fever utilize the ED at a higher rate. A retrospective secondary data analysis was performed on 7,929 ED visits from the 2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS): Emergency Department Patient Record dataset. The number of patient visits was based on a 12- month period. The association between age and the number of ED visits within a 12-month period was not statistically significant. Patients covered by Medicaid/SCRIP utilized the ED at a higher rate than children with other types of insurance coverage. The minority group of Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders had significantly more visits to the emergency department within a 12-month period than any of the other ethnic groups. The correlation between body temperature (having a fever when first evaluated at the ED) and the number of ED visits was not statistically significant. The results imply that the ED is being utilized by children who may not have an urgent condition and suggestions to address the issue are made.
Advisor: | Reynolds, Grace |
Commitee: | Acosta-Deprez, Veronica, Sinay, Tony |
School: | California State University, Long Beach |
Department: | Health Care Administration |
School Location: | United States -- California |
Source: | MAI 52/01M(E), Masters Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Health care management |
Keywords: | |
Publication Number: | 1523086 |
ISBN: | 978-1-303-20290-2 |