Researchers have long known that patients who leave emergency departments before medically advised use more emergency care services, are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital and face higher costs of care-as well as increased mortality rates.
Until now, however, little has been known about national, multi-year trends, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this phenomenon.
In addition, most studies have focused on specific subgroups of patients, such as those with stroke or those with appendicitis who leave after surgery. We wanted to determine the factors related to the patient, hospital or encounter that led the patient to leave early, as well as to identify any national, multi-year trends.”
Elena Andreyeva, PhD, faculty member, Texas A&M University School of Public…