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Patients with low-acuity conditions commonly seek care in an emergency department even when they have a primary care physician (PCP). To assess patients’ attempts to access alternative sources of care before coming to an ED, investigators surveyed randomly selected, stable adult patients with minor injuries and illnesses who presented to two urban, high-volume Canadian regional trauma referral centers.
Of 894 surveys with complete data, 61% of patients reported seeking care from at least one source before the ED visit. In multivariate analysis, lack of a PCP, living alone, smoking, and presenting with injury were associated with primary ED presentation (without first seeking alternative care). Of the 75% of patients who called a physician’s …