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Using Syndromic Surveillance Data to Describe Chronic High Frequency ED Utilization

Description

Utilization and overcrowding of EDs has been a prominent component of the health care reform debate in the United States for the last several years. In Virginia, the ED utilization rate has increased 27.5% between 2000 and 2012 from 34.5 visits to 44.0 visits per 100 persons. Individuals with high frequency utilization of EDs account for a disproportionate number of visits, which can place burden on already strained health care resources. This study aims to use existing syndromic surveillance data received electronically by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to describe demographic and utilization characteristics among chronic high frequency ED users in order to better understand the health complaints affecting this population.

Objective

Leverage existing syndromic surveillance data to characterize the population of chronic high frequency emergency department (ED) users and to understand the health complaints for which this population utilizes emergent health care services.

Submitted by teresa.hamby@d… on