Clinical and Economic Factors Associated With Ambulance Use to the Emergency Department

Academic Emergency Medicine, Vol. 13, No. 8, pp. 879-885, 2006

7 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2006

See all articles by Jennifer Prah Ruger

Jennifer Prah Ruger

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice; University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

Christopher Richter

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Medicine

Lawrence Lewis

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Medicine

Abstract

Background: Concern about ambulance diversion and emergency department (ED) overcrowding has increased scrutiny of ambulance use. Knowledge is limited, however, about clinical and economic factors associated with ambulance use compared to other arrival methods. Objectives: To compare clinical and economic factors associated with different arrival methods at a large, urban, academic hospital ED. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of all patients seen during 2001 (N = 80,209) at an urban academic hospital ED. Data were obtained from hospital clinical and financial records. Outcomes included acuity and severity level, primary complaint, medical diagnosis, disposition, payment, length of stay, costs, and mode of arrival (bus, car, air-medical transport, walk-in, or ambulance). Multivariate logistic regression identified independent factors associated with ambulance use. Results: In multivariate analysis, factors associated with ambulance use included: triage acuity A (resuscitation) (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 51.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 33.1 to 79.6) or B (emergent) (OR, 9.2;95% CI = 6.1 to 13.7), Diagnosis Related Group severity level 4 (most severe) (OR, 1.4; 95% CI = 1.2 to 1.8), died (OR, 3.8; 95% CI = 1.5 to 9.0), hospital intensive care unit/operating room admission (OR, 1.9; 95% CI = 1.6 to 2.1), motor vehicle crash (OR, 7.1; 95% CI = 6.4 to 7.9), gunshot/stab wound (OR, 2.1; 95% CI = 1.5 to 2.8), fell 0-10 ft (OR, 2.0; 95% CI = 1.8 to 2.3). Medicaid Traditional (OR, 2.0; 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.4), Medicare Traditional (OR, 1.8; 95% CI = 1.7 to 2.1), arrived weekday midnight-8 AM (OR, 2.0; 95% CI = 1.8 to 2.1), and age R65 years (OR, 1.3; 95% CI = 1.2 to 1.5). Conclusions: Ambulance use was related to severity of injury or illness, age, arrival time, and payer status. Patients arriving by ambulance were more likely to be acutely sick and severely injured and had longer ED length of stay and higher average costs, but they were less likely to have private managed care or to leave the ED against medical advice, compared to patients arriving by independent means.

Keywords: emergency department, cost, outcomes, utilization, mode of arrival, insurance status

JEL Classification: I10, I11, I12, I18, I31

Suggested Citation

Prah Ruger, Jennifer and Richter, Christopher and Lewis, Lawrence, Clinical and Economic Factors Associated With Ambulance Use to the Emergency Department. Academic Emergency Medicine, Vol. 13, No. 8, pp. 879-885, 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=948602

Jennifer Prah Ruger (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice ( email )

3701 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6214
United States

University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

Christopher Richter

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Medicine ( email )

660 S. Euclid Ave., Third Floor McMillan
St. Louis, MO 63110-1010
United States

Lawrence Lewis

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Medicine ( email )

660 S. Euclid Ave., Third Floor McMillan
St. Louis, MO 63110-1010
United States

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