title: [A survey of "heavy consumers" of emergency care services in Stockholm. Six per cent of the patients accounted for a quarter of emergency consultations].
abstract: A small subgroup of patients accounts for a substantial proportion of emergency room (ER) consultations. Of the 479,956 consultations at ER facilities at Stockholm hospitals in 1996, a quarter were accounted for by six per cent of the patients, a subgroup characterised by at least four ER consultations during the year. Some 1,500 patients consulted 12-233 times. Analysis of the care-seeking habits of five extremely heavy ER-facility consumers showed them also to be heavy consumers of other health care services such as primary and tertiary facilities. Since previous studies have shown heavy ER-facility consumers to be a vulnerable subgroup both medically and socially, co-ordination and planning of their care might well be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Beroendecentrum Nord, Sabbatsberg, Stockholm.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hansagi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sjöberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
vernacular_title: Kartläggning av akutsjukvårdens "storkonsumenter" i Stockholm. Sex procent stod för en fjärdedel av besöken på akutmottagningarna.