Utilization of Virginia's hospital emergency departments

When compared with the results of a statewide study conducted in 1968, these data indicate that the utilization of Virginia's emergency departments has increased substantially both in absolute numbers and on a per capita basis. Consistent with the national pattern, the results of this study suggest that a large proportion of patients who utilize the hospital emergency department are actually seeking care for non-acute conditions. Thus the hospital emergency department and its staff are confronted with the complex and often contradictory task of responding appropriately to growing demands for primary medical care while, concurrently, trying to improve the level of care for patients with acute illness or injuries. The development of workable ways to resolve this dilemma and still ensure that the public has ready access to appropriate medical care at a reasonable cost is one of the major challenges in the health industry today.