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Article: Visits to U.S. Emergency Departments at All-Time High; Number of Departments Shrinking
- Article from:
- U.S. Newswire
- Article date:
- May 26, 2005
CopyrightCopyright 2005 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON, May 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Visits to the nation's
emergency departments (EDs) reached a record high of nearly 114
million in 2003, but the number of EDs decreased by 14 percent from
1993 to 2003, according to a new report released today by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report attributes the rise in ED visits to increased use by
adults, especially those 65 years old and over. Among people aged
65-74, the ED visit rate was more than five times higher for those
residing in a nursing home or other institution compared with those
not living in an institutionalized setting.
The report also finds that Medicaid patients were four times (81