Posted: 12/01/08
For a parent, nothing is worse than seeing their child sick or in pain, and having to wait for an appointment with the doctor can be frustrating. Many parents choose to take their child to the emergency room for non-urgent care even if they have individual health insurance plans and a primary care physician (PCP). A study published in the journal Academic Pediatrics shows many parents don't do this to abuse the system; they do it because they have questions and concerns about the care they receive at the primary care physicians' offices. The study finds that parents take their children to the emergency room because of problems with the PCP, referrals from the PCP, and advantages of care in the emergency department.
Use of the emergency room for non-urgent care may place strain on the system causing longer waits which could result in adverse outcomes. Additional, continued over use of emergency care could have an affect on individual health insurance plans and their rates.
Related Links
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_72008.html
Why are ER costs so high?
