Closed ERs May Impact Patient Mortality
SAN FRANCISCO — Patients admitted to a hospital located near another hospital with a closed emergency department have a greater chance of dying, according to a California study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Researchers believe that the closure of emergency departments puts pressure on nearby ERs as well as patients. This could be due to increased travel time to farther emergency departments, as well as increased wait times or crowding in ERs with bigger populations.