Table 3.
Referrals to the Emergency Department (ED) and Care After Utilizing Emergency Care
| 1998 | 2001 | Absolute Change n (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | % (95% CI) | N | % (95% CI) | ||
| Referral to the emergency department* | |||||
| Self | 392 | 67.9 (64.1–71.7) | 44† | 16.4 (11.9–20.8) | −348 (−88.8) |
| GP | 109 | 18.9 (15.7–22.1) | 158 | 58.7 (52.9–64.6) | +49 (45.0) |
| Ambulance | 58 | 10.1 (7.6–12.5) | 51 | 19.0 (14.3–23.6) | −7 (12.1) |
| Other | 18 | 3.1 (1.7–4.5) | 16 | 5.9 (3.1–8.8) | −2 (11.1) |
| Total | 577 | 100.0 | 269 | 100.0 | |
| Missing | 30 | 4.9 | 19 | 6.6 | |
| *Chi-square test: χ21 df=201.957; P<.001 | |||||
| Post-ED care* | |||||
| Hospital admission | 114 | 20.0 (16.7–23.3) | 75 | 32.2 (26.2–38.2) | −39 (34.2) |
| GP | 53 | 9.3 (6.9–11.7) | 22 | 9.4 (5.7–13.2) | −31(58.5) |
| Outpatient clinic | 142 | 25.0 (21.4–28.5) | 113 | 48.5 (42.1–54.9) | −29 (20.4) |
| Elsewhere | 4 | 0.7 (0–1.4) | 1 | 0.4 (0–1.3) | −3 (75.0) |
| None | 256 | 45.0 (40.9–49.1) | 22 | 9.4 (5.7–13.2) | −234 (91.4) |
| Total | 569 | 100.0 | 233 | 100.0 | |
| Missing | 38 | 6.3 | 55 | 19.1 | |
| *Chi-square test: χ21 df=99.645; P<.001 | |||||
†
These patients have been directed to the emergency doctor without formal referral, because they suffered severe injuries and needed to be treated immediately.
CI, confidence interval.