XXXX in @entity7452 : sociodemographic predictors of emergency department utilization.

@entity1 @entity7452 @entity2613 @entity3458
BACKGROUND: @entity1 with @entity3458 ( @entity3458 ) visit emergency departments (EDs) in rates leading to a significant health system burden. However, limited comprehensive evaluations of utilization patterns have been published using data connecting visits to @entity1 across facilities. This study aims to examine sociodemographic predictors of @entity2613 utilization in @entity3458 . PROCEDURE: This retrospective cohort study employed 2007 data from the @entity7452 Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Data included all @entity2613 encounters from @entity7452 hospitals; identifiers connected each visit to an individual @entity1 , across all facilities in the state. Multivariate regression techniques evaluated sociodemographic predictors of utilization while adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: In 2007, 2,920 @entity7452 @entity1 with @entity3458 made 16,364 @entity2613 visits. Adults >=  21 years of age had higher @entity2613 visit rates than @entity1 and were more likely to both be in the highest tier of users and visit multiple facilities. @entity1 living further from a self-identified provider of comprehensive @entity3458 care had higher rates of @entity2613 visits and a lower likelihood of hospitalization from the @entity2613 . Publicly insured @entity1 had higher rates of @entity2613 visits and were more likely to be in the highest tier of users than were the privately insured or uninsured. CONCLUSIONS: Adulthood >=  21 years of age, distance from comprehensive @entity3458 care, and insurance status are significant predictors of @entity2613 utilization in @entity3458 . As a routine source of care decreases @entity2613 utilization, these findings prompt concern that these factors act as barriers to accessing comprehensive @entity3458 care.
