Dispelling the Myth of Emergency Department Health Care Spending

Emergency Departments are often blamed for increased health care spending.  However, upon investigation Emergency Departments only account for 3% of health care spending annually.  In addition, Emergency medicine physicians only account for 4% of all physicians, yet 70% of Emergency Department visits are by uninsured physicians and we see 124 million patients each year.  Emergency Departments are closing at an alarming rate, however the need for emergency visits have increased and will increase even more as health care reform is further implemented.  Emergency Departments are vital to the community and provide medical care at a low fraction of health care spending.  See this website for more information: http://www.acep.org/Content.aspx?id=45294