Rural Health and the Nonemergency Use of Emergency Medical Services.
The use of emergency department (ED) services for nonemergent conditions is common and seems to be growing. At a time when health care reform efforts are focused on delivering the right care, at the right time, and in the right place, understanding access barriers to health care and the impact of these barriers on the achievement of health equity for everyone is critical to achieving identified Healthy People 2020 national objectives. This article describes motivations for nonemergent use of ED services by individuals living in rural southeastern United States.
Graduate Nursing Programs, Alcorn State University, 15 Campus Drive, Natchez, MS 39120, USA. Electronic address: lbaskin@alcorn.edu.
LaWanda W
LW
Baskin
Graduate Nursing Programs, Alcorn State University, 15 Campus Drive, Natchez, MS 39120, USA.
Janelle R
JR
Baker
FNP Track, Alcorn State University, 15 Campus Drive, Natchez, MS 39120, USA.
Teresa L
TL
Bryan
Graduate Nursing Programs, Alcorn State University, 15 Campus Drive, Natchez, MS 39120, USA.
Geraldine Q
GQ
Young
School of Nursing, Alcorn State University, 15 Campus Drive, Natchez, MS 39120, USA.
Yolanda M
YM
Powell-Young
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015144:Southeastern United States; D055815:Young Adult
Access to health care; Emergency treatment; Health care disparities; Health care reform; Rural health