| Declining emergency department visits and costs during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16440068 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: The immediate and long-term impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak on emergency department (ED) visits and hospital expenditures for these visits has not been thoroughly investigated. The objectives of this retrospective observational study investigated the impact of SARS outbreak on ED visits and the cost of these visits in a designated SARS medical center. METHODS: Data related to the total number of ED visits and their costs were collected for the SARS epidemic period in 2003 and the same period in the preceding year in 2002. Data collected included total number of ED visits, services provided, triage categories, and total expenditures for all patients. Data for before and during the outbreak were retrieved and compared. RESULTS: At the peak of the SARS epidemic, the reduction in daily ED visits reached 51.6% of pre-epidemic numbers (p < 0.01). In pediatric, trauma and non-trauma patients, the maximum mean decreases in number of visits were 80.0% (p < 0.01), 57.6% (p < 0.01) and 40.8% (p < 0.01), respectively. In triage 1, 2 and 3 patients, the maximum mean decreases were 18.1% (p < 0.01), 55.9% (p < 0.01) and 53.7% (p < 0.01), respectively. The maximum decrease in total costs was 37.7% (p < 0.01). The maximum mean costs per patient increased 35.9% (p < 0.01). The proportions of increases in mean costs for each patient were attributed to laboratory investigations (31.4%), radiography (21.9%) and medications (29.5%). CONCLUSION: The SARS outbreak resulted in a marked reduction in the number of ED visits which persisted for 3 months after the end of the epidemic. Total cost of treating individual patients showed a simultaneous marked increase, while overall operational costs in the ED showed a marked decrease. The increased total cost for each patient was attributed to the increased number of diagnostic procedures to screen for possible SARS in the ED. |
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Authors:
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Hsien-Hao Huang; David Hung-Tsang Yen; Wei-Fong Kao; Lee-Min Wang; Chun-I Huang; Chen-Hsen Lee |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi Volume: 105 ISSN: 0929-6646 ISO Abbreviation: J. Formos. Med. Assoc. Publication Date: 2006 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2006-01-27 Completed Date: 2006-02-28 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9214933 Medline TA: J Formos Med Assoc Country: China |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 31-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, College of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Emergency Service, Hospital
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economics*,
utilization* Hospital Costs / statistics & numerical data* Humans Retrospective Studies Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology* Taiwan / epidemiology |
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