UC San Francisco researchers report that only 3.3% of ER visits could be classified as "avoidable," in stark contrast to a study from Truven Health Analytics that found nearly 71% of ER visits are avoidable. The researchers contend that it's difficult to determine whether an ED visit was necessary until after the visit, which severely limits the ability of triage to make a difference. The 3.3% of visits deemed avoidable included visits that didn't require any diagnostic or screening services, procedures or medications, and were discharged home. A significant number of those avoidable visits included mental health and dental conditions, which EDs are ill-equipped to treat. The authors say the findings point to a lack of access to healthcare rather than intentional inappropriate use as the driving force behind many "avoidable" visits. Of the avoidable visits, 6.8% were for alcohol- or mood-related disorders, like depression or anxiety, while 3.9% were for dental conditions. The top three non-emergent ER diagnoses were identified by researchers as joint disorders, atopic dermatitis, and other soft tissue diseases.
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