Transfer versus direct-visit patients in medically underserved emergency departments: a retrospective cohort study

Understanding patient transfer patterns in medically underserved areas is crucial for healthcare system optimization. This study analyzed the differences between transferred and direct-visit patients at a tertiary emergency department in a medically underserved region.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 35,254 adult patients (≥ 18 years) visiting a tertiary care hospital Emergency Department in South Korea from January to December 2023. Patients were categorized into transferred (n = 7,069) or direct-visit (n = 28,185) groups. Demographics, clinical characteristics, resource utilization, and outcomes were compared using appropriate statistical tests. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with clinical outcomes, including main diagnosis categories. Sensitivity analyses were performed excluding out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Transferred patients were older (63.7 vs. 58.4 years, p < 0.001), more often male (59.4% vs. 49.7%, p < 0.001), and presented with higher acuity (KTAS 1-3: 87.5% vs. 31.9%, p < 0.001). Resource utilization was significantly higher in transferred patients, including hospitalization (55.1% vs. 23.4%, p < 0.001) and ICU admission (6.1% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.001). Paradoxically, in-hospital mortality was lower in transferred patients (0.47% vs. 0.75%, p = 0.012). After multivariable adjustment including diagnosis categories, transferred status remained associated with hospitalization (OR 3.42, 95% CI 3.22-3.64), ICU admission (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.73-2.27), and 30-day revisits (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.11-1.55), but inversely associated with mortality (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.31-0.74). However, after excluding out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, the mortality difference became non-significant (p = 0.604).

Transferred patients in medically underserved areas present with higher acuity and consume more resources, but show lower mortality rates that may reflect effective triage and survivorship bias rather than superior care delivery. These findings highlight the importance of interfacility transfer networks while acknowledging selection effects in regional healthcare delivery.