Table 1.

Patient and Emergency Department Visit Characteristics (N = 102,516)^a

Patient and ED Visit Characteristics	Value
Patient characteristics
Age ≥55 y	64.1
Female	8.0
African American race	19.0
Unknown/missing race	27.8
Unmarried	54.6
Low income (copay exempt)	39.4
Homelessb	5.6
Uninsured	54.8
Comorbidity scorec
0 (lowest)	68.5
1	20.0
2	5.2
3 or greater	2.6
50% or more service-connected disability	24.2
ED visit in 180 days preceding index ED visit	15.6
Hospital admission in 180 days preceding index ED visit	9.3
Number of PCP visits in 12 months preceding index ED visit, mean (SD)	4.0 (4.0)
Receiving Aid and Attendance benefitsd	2.0
Index ED visit characteristics
Weekend	19.6
Discharge diagnosis categorye
Injury/acute musculoskeletal	22.5
Chronic medical condition	20.7
Non-musculoskeletal symptoms	13.7
Infection	15.6
Facility l ocation
Northeast	13. 6
South	45.6
Midwest	19.3
West	21.5

ED indicates emergency department.

^aValues are percentages unless indicated otherwise.

^bHomelessness was defined by receipt of VA care related to homelessness in the previous year, according to clinic codes (528, 529, or 590) or diagnosis codes (V60.0 and V60.1).

^cAccording to Diagnostic Cost Group score.

^dIndicates severe functional impairment.

^eRemainder were unclassified.