Patterns of emergency department use during the Israel doctors' strike

We studied changes in emergency department utilization at a major Jerusalem regional hospital during the 4-month-long Israel doctors' strike. The number of ED visits was increased by 35% over control levels. There were larger increases in female visitors than male and larger increases in visits by children and in women of childbearing age. Use of laboratory tests, ECGs, and x-rays were increased minimally, and hospital admissions via the ED were unchanged. We conclude that the vast majority of excess strike-related ED visits were for trivial illnesses and that very large numbers of persons with medical symptoms elected not to seek any medical attention at all during the strike.