Abstract
As health care resources become increasingly scarce, some suggest that emergency rooms are misused or overused. This study examined whether patients believe their problems are urgent, whether health care providers agree, and what factors influence these decisions. In many cases, using less expensive alternative care is appropriate. Widespread education to change patients' attitudes about the urgency of their medical concerns could reduce inappropriate hospital visits.
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Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
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