Agenda
Date: | August 20, 2008 | |
Time: | 12:00-1:30 p.m. | |
Location: | CSAC Conference Center | |
1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor | ||
Sacramento, CA |
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Hospital emergency departments are a critical part of the state’s health care system, providing the only guaranteed health care for the uninsured and offering 24-hour health care access to everyone. In 2006, more than ten million visits were made to California hospital emergency departments. To assess the stability of this system, a new study of California’s emergency departments describes trends in their capacity and use, and creates detailed profiles of emergency department visits. Heavy use of emergency departments, especially by patients seeking treatment for nonurgent conditions, and hospital and emergency department closures, have contributed to overcrowded conditions that increasingly concern policymakers and the public.
Hospital emergency departments are a critical part of the state’s health care system, providing the only guaranteed health care for the uninsured and offering 24-hour health care access to everyone. In 2006, more than ten million visits were made to California hospital emergency departments. To assess the stability of this system, a new study of California’s emergency departments describes trends in their capacity and use, and creates detailed profiles of emergency department visits. Heavy use of emergency departments, especially by patients seeking treatment for nonurgent conditions, and hospital and emergency department closures, have contributed to overcrowded conditions that increasingly concern policymakers and the public.
Lunch will be provided. This study was supported with funding from the California Program on Access to Care.
SPEAKER
Research Associate Shannon McConville is an expert in health policy and population demographics.