Demand for hospital emergency departments: a conceptual understanding

Abstract

This review has explored the factors contributing to the growing demand for ED care, the influence these factors have on ED demand, and their interrelationships depicted in the conceptual model.

Emergency Care Services

“…In a systematic review of the literature examining the demand for hospital EDs, He et al (2011) show that in general, older people are more likely to use EDs for urgent medical conditions, while younger people tend to present more frequently to EDs for injury and less-urgent illness such as fever, cough, nausea or vomiting.…”

“…In a systematic review of 100 studies, He et al (2011) found that social support plays a significant role in ED demand. The relationship appears particularly strong for elderly patients.…”

“…Poverty, minority status and lack of social support are all associated with a higher likelihood of visiting EDs (Purdy, 2010;He et al, 2011;Ushner-Pines, 2013). In this respect, the economic crisis that has increased the number of people in a vulnerable situation due to rising unemployment, housing insecurity and household debt (Eurofound, 2014) might have contributed to the growing demand for emergency care.…”

The factors that influence private health insurance holders' choice between public and private emergency departments at the time of emergency

“…Therefore, private hospital EDs has the potential to alleviate the pressure in the public system. (He, 2012;He et al, 2011), and below is a summary of these results:…”

“…Previous studies have focussed on identifying the factors that influence the demand for emergency service (He, Hou, Toloo, Patrick, & Fitzgerald, 2011) and establishing a theoretical framework for emergency service demand (Toloo et al, 2011b). However, no research has been conducted to understand the factors that influence patients' choice between public and private EDs.This study seeks to fill this gap.…”