- Overall inpatient admissions have declined significantly
- Between 2010 and 2016, hospital outpatient ED visits increased by more than 7 percent per capita across all payors, and 14.1% in Medicare
- In 2017, about 580 free-standing EDs were in operation – 377 affiliated with a hospital
- Increased usage of urgent care centers and physician clinics with extended hours may be contributing to a decline in ED utilization for lower acuity
- Cases that previously resulted in hospital admission are now treated on an outpatient basis, leading to a greater proportion of higher acuity cases in the ED overall
- Access to ED coverage is critical nationwide, but is increasingly difficult in rural areas
