Frequent attenders at emergency departments: A linked-data population study of adult patients

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the characteristics of adult patient attendances to emergency departments (EDs) in Perth hospitals by patients' frequency of attendance. Design, setting and participants: A linked-data population study of adults (aged ≥ 15 years) attending all nine Perth hospital EDs between 1 July 2000 and 31 December 2006. Main outcome measures: Proportion of frequent attenders (FAs; those attending five or more times annually); and demographic characteristics, mode of arrival at the ED, disposition (admission, transfer, discharge or death), urgency and clinical conditions by frequency of attendance. Results: There was a mean of 1.5 attendances per individual per year, resulting in 1..