Adolescents Who Use the Emergency Department as Their Usual Source of Care

Abstract

Adolescents who use the ED as their usual source of care are often from vulnerable populations. Many have special mental or physical needs that are unlikely to be met with ED visits only, and they are likely to have missed care they needed. Creating linkages between EDs and other services could help at-risk adolescents identify and use more appropriate sources of primary care.

Age differences in emergency department utilization and repeat visits among patients with opioid use disorder at an urban safety-net hospital: A focus on young adults

“…In addition, Medicaid beneficiaries were more likely to utilize the ED and be repeat ED utilizers compared to commercially insured patients. The results are in line with previous studies that individuals who utilize the ED are often persons with low-socioeconomic statuses (Hunt et al, 2006;Krieg et al, 2016;Wilson et al, 2000).…”

Access to Medical and Mental Health Services Across the HIV Care Continuum Among Young Transgender Women: A Qualitative Study

“…30 This is a critical issue for YTW both living with and at risk for HIV infection since they are likely to seek care in the ED setting for multiple reasons, including their age, lack of access to other care, and high rates of suicide attempts. 26,31 Our finding that more than half of the participants reported symptoms of moderate-to-severe depression is remarkable and consistent with findings from Reisner et al 12 However, our study adds important information about the mismatch between the unique mental health concerns of YTW and the failure of providers and systems to meet those needs. Participants in our study specifically described that few mental health providers were trained to address gender identity in the context of other mental health issues as well as not being able to afford or travel to appropriate providers when identified.…”

Individual and Social Factors Related to Trajectories of Blackouts among Underage Drinkers in the Emergency Department

“…In summary, nearly 1-in-5 underage risky drinkers consistently reported blackouts over one year, which also was not affected by receipt of a brief intervention for alcohol use, underscoring the need for more intensive interventions. These youth may represent an especially high-risk sample given they were presenting to an ED for care (Wilson and Klein, 2000), which is consistent with our finding that an alcohol-related ED visit distinguished members of the higher risk groups (versus those with few or no blackouts in the following year). Despite the findings emphasizing higher risk among college students, particularly those involved in Greek Life,~25% of the Moderate and High groups comprised individuals not in college, suggesting the need for interventions outside colleges or prior to college enrollment.…”