Citation

Yard EE, Comstock RD. J. Saf. Res. 2009; 40(1): 63-69.

Affiliation

Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2008.12.004

PMID

19285588

Abstract

PROBLEM: The objective of this study was to compare the epidemiology of injuries presenting to emergency department (ED) and urgent care (UC) facilities of a single, NEISS-affiliated hospital. METHOD: Patient medical records (n=36,811) were used to compare injury incidence, injury characteristics, and demographic characteristics between the ED, on-site UC, and off-site UC during 2006. RESULTS: ED presentations were more likely to be open wounds and motor vehicle-related compared to on-site UC presentations. ED presentations were more likely to be system wide/late effects, be made by an African American, or be paid through Medicaid compared to off-site UC presentations. On-site UC presentations were more likely to be made by an African American or be paid through Medicaid compared to off-site UC presentations. DISCUSSION: ED and UC injury characteristics and patient demographics differ. With no nationally-representative UC injury surveillance, current research likely underestimates injury incidence and presents skewed profiles. Impact on Industry: This article adds insight into the generalizability of ED-based injury surveillance to UC injuries.

Language: en