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Injury recidivism in a rural ED
J M Williams1, P M Furbee, D W Hungerford
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Center for Rural Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-9151, USA.
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|August 1, 1997
Summary
A small group of patients account for a significant proportion of emergency department (ED) injury visits. Injury recidivists are younger, of lower socioeconomic status, and at higher risk for intentional injuries.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Emergency departments (EDs) manage a substantial volume of injury-related visits.
- Understanding injury recidivism patterns is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Identifying characteristics of patients with recurrent injuries can inform resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent of injury recidivism within an ED population.
- To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and injury-related factors associated with injury recidivism.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of injury-related ED visits at a university-affiliated medical center.
- Definition of injury recidivism: patients with two or more unique injury presentations within one year.
- Categorization of patients into single, low, and high injury visit groups for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- 24% of injury-related ED visits and 12% of injured patients were identified as recidivists.
- Recidivists were younger, more likely to have Medicaid or be uninsured, and incurred higher total patient charges.
- Increasing recidivism correlated with decreased transportation-related injuries but increased overexertion or intentional injuries.
Conclusions:
- A small cohort of patients drives a disproportionate number of ED injury visits.
- Injury recidivists represent a vulnerable population with distinct socioeconomic and injury profiles.
- Findings highlight the need for tailored prevention strategies for high-risk individuals to reduce recurrent ED visits for injuries.