Emergency room use by patients from the family practice of a black physician

Lack of access to a primary care physician has been cited as a major influence on the patterns of emergency department use by low income patients. This study, however, clearly suggests that some other, equally important, variables influence this problem. Seven hundred ninety-four visits to the emergency department during 1980 by patients from the practice of a minority physician were reviewed. The study supported other reports of frequent and inappropriate use of the emergency department by welfare patients, in spite of the availability of the family physician. The high percentage of nontrauma-related visits, especially in the age group of 20 to 30 year olds, strongly suggests the influence of sociocultural factors in this occurrence. Although further study is necessary, investigators must be cautious that the complexity of the situation could belie any quick fix.