See You All at the Emergency Room

It must be where the party is, as Americans sought medical help in doctors' offices and emergency rooms over 1.1 billion times in 2006, or about four visits per person per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The number of medical visits to doctors' offices and hospital emergency rooms increased by 26 percent from 1996 to 2006, faster than the growth of the U.S. population, which rose by 11 percent. Why the massive increase?

CDC suggests that the rise in ER visits is mainly due to the aging population, as "older persons have higher visit rates than younger persons in general…"

Yes, in general there's that, and how about a growing lack of available primary care doctors? Not having health insurance has always been a reason to go to the emergency room, but now more insured people than ever are using the ER, rather than wait to see their primary care physician. Even a two hour wait in an emergency room is better than "Your doctor can see you in two weeks."

Also See:
Should the US Have Nationalized Health Insurance?
More Americans Without Health Insurance