Emergency rooms handle the most urgent medical needs within the community. From car accidents to mental health concerns, the staff at your local emergency room is prepared to help and ensure you have the immediate medical attention you need.
Let’s examine some national emergency room visit statistics. They provide interesting information about who visits the ER, the most common reasons for those visits, and insights that could help you navigate your own healthcare needs right here in Washington.
Emergency Room Visits Statistics
Are you curious about what’s happening at your local emergency room? Here are some national statistics that can give you some insight.
- There were 139.8 million visits to the emergency room nationwide in 2021
- 41.8% of those patients were seen in under 15 minutes
- Only 13.1% of emergency visits result in being admitted to the hospital
- ER patients are most commonly under the age of one or over the age of 75
- Female-identifying patients are the most common, accounting for 42 out of 100 visitors
- Injury and poisoning are the most common reasons for a visit to the ER
- Abdominal pain and intestinal distress are the most common diagnoses in the ER
- The rate of ER visits is higher in rural and low-income communities
- There are only 1.60 hospital beds available for every 1,000 people in Washington
- ER visits increase when there are wildfires in the state, and admissions rise by 7%
- The most common form of payment in the ER is Medicaid or another state-sponsored program
What Do These ER Statistics Mean?
National statistics can tell us a lot about what’s happening in our local emergency rooms. For example, statistically, the most common ER visitor is a female over the age of 75 living in a rural or low-income area. She’s most likely to be there because of an injury and will probably be on Medicaid or Medicare.
Another statistic Washington residents will want to pay close attention to is wait time. On average, nearly half of ER visitors across the nation are seen in less than 15 minutes. Those numbers are likely to be much higher in Washington. ERs here are experiencing longer wait times and massive staff shortages. The emergency room in Yamika is currently the busiest in the state, and other ERs aren’t far behind it.
It’s also important to note that there are only 1.60 hospital beds for every 1,000 Washington residents, the lowest rate in the country. With so many ER cases being treated and released, you play a part in easing the burden on overtaxed emergency rooms. Before you visit the ER, determine whether you are experiencing a genuine medical emergency, need to visit urgent care, or can wait to see your primary care physician. You can download a free brochure from The Washington State Hospital Association to help you decide.
Taking preventative measures seriously can help further ease the demand on the local emergency room. Preventative measures include buckling up when in the car, locking up your household cleaners, and not taking unnecessary risks when standing on a ladder. When you take care of yourself, you reduce the chances that you’ll need to visit the emergency room because of an accident, injury, or poisoning.
Our Emergency Room is Here to Help
Emergency rooms are vital to the medical system, supporting patients when they experience a sudden or severe accident or illness. When you need help, the East Adams Rural Healthcare team is here. Every day, we treat patients who come through our doors seeking emergency care for their medical concerns. Our emergency department team works with our wider healthcare network to ensure you get the care you need when you leave, too.
From primary care services to emergency care, we have you covered. Learn more about our healthcare services and treatments today.
Sources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhamcs/web_tables/2021-nhamcs-ed-web-tables-508.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db452.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db452.htm
- https://mynorthwest.com/3932619/wash-hospitals-capacity-crisis-worst-state-country/
- https://www.washington.edu/news/2023/08/28/uw-research-links-wildfire-smoke-to-increased-risk-of-emergency-room-visits-for-people-of-all-ages/
- https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/survey-yakima-valley-memorial-has-most-er-visits-of-any-hospital-in-state/article_081e9e36-44ef-11ed-93c1-5317fc854afb.html
