Category: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
Q & A from Author of Emergency Department Visits Related to Mental Health Disorders Among Adults, by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity

Q: Why did you decide to report on rates of emergency department (ED) visits for mental health disorders by race and ethnicity? ZP: As mentioned in the introduction of this report, prior research has shown that certain race/ethnicity groups are less likely to receive routine mental health care. Additionally, mental health disorders are frequently diagnosed at ED visits, Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Emergency Department Visit Rates by Age Group — United States, 2019–2020
The emergency department (ED) visit rate for infants aged <1 year declined by nearly one half from 123 visits per 100 infants during 2019 to 68 during 2020. The ED visit rate for children and adolescents aged 1–17 years also decreased from 43 to 29 visits per 100 persons during the same period. Decreases among Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Rates of Emergency Department Visits Related to Mental Health Disorders Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years, by Disorder Category — National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, United States, 2017–2019
During 2017–2019, 52.9 ED visits per 1,000 persons were related to a diagnosed mental health disorder (MHD) in the United States per year. Approximately one half of mental health–related visits had a diagnosis of a psychoactive substance use disorder at a rate of 27.1 visits per 1,000 persons per year, followed by an anxiety, stress-related, Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Rate of Emergency Department (ED) Visits by Homeless Status and Geographic Region§ — National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, United States, 2015–2018
During 2015–2018, there were annual averages of 42 ED visits per 100 total population, 42 ED visits per 100 nonhomeless persons, and 203 ED visits per 100 homeless persons. Within each region, the rate of ED visits among homeless persons was higher than the rate for nonhomeless persons. The rates of visits for nonhomeless Read More >
Posted on byOpioid-involved Emergency Department Visits in the National Hospital Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
Questions for Geoffrey Jackson, Health Statistician and Lead Author of “Opioid-involved Emergency Department Visits in the National Hospital Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.” Q: Why did you decide to research opioid-involved emergency department (ED) visits? GJ: From 2005 through 2014, it is estimated that the rate of ED visits due Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Emergency Department (ED) Visits Made by Adults with Influenza and Pneumonia That Resulted in Hospital Admission, by Age Group
During 2017–2018, 37.2% of ED visits for influenza and pneumonia by adults aged 18 years or older resulted in a hospital admission. The percentage increased with age from 14.4% for adults aged 18–54 years to 46.9% for adults aged 55–74 years and 69.7% for adults aged 75 years or older. Source: National Center for Health Statistics. Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Emergency Department Visits for Acute Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infection at Which an Antimicrobial Was Given or Prescribed by Age — United States, 2010–2017
From 2010–2013 to 2014–2017, the percentage of emergency department (ED) visits for acute viral upper respiratory tract infection that had an antimicrobial given or prescribed, hereafter referred to as ED visits, decreased from 23.4% to 17.6%. A decline was also seen for ED visits by children, decreasing from 17.9% to 10.1%, but a decline was Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Emergency Department Visits for Pain at Which Opioids Were Given or Prescribed, by Geographic Region of the Hospital — United States, 2005–2017
The percentage of emergency department visits for pain at which an opioid was given or prescribed increased from 37.4% in 2005 to 43.1% in 2010 and then decreased to 30.9% in 2017. A similar pattern was observed in all four regions. Percentages for the Northeast were lower than for the nation as a whole for Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Number of Emergency Department Visits, for Substance Abuse or Dependence per 10,000 Persons Aged 18 Years or Older, by Age Group — United States, 2008–2009 and 2016–2017
The rate of emergency department visits with a primary diagnosis or primary complaint of substance abuse or dependence by patients aged 18–34 years in the United States increased from 45.4 visits per 10,000 persons in 2008–2009 to 76.0 visits in 2016–2017 but remained stable among patients aged 35 years or older (27.2 in 2008–2009 and Read More >
Posted on byEmergency Department Visits for Injuries Sustained During Sports and Recreational Activities by Patients Aged 5–24 Years, 2010–2016
Questions for Lead Author Anna Rui, Health Statistician, of “Emergency Department Visits for Injuries Sustained During Sports and Recreational Activities by Patients Aged 5–24 Years, 2010–2016.” Q: What do you think is the most significant finding in this report? AR: The top activities that caused emergency room (ER) visits for sports injuries by patients ages Read More >
Posted on byOpioids Prescribed at Discharge or Given During Emergency Department Visits Among Adults in the United States, 2016
Questions for Lead Author Anna Rui, Health Statistician, of “Opioids Prescribed at Discharge or Given During Emergency Department Visits Among Adults in the United States, 2016.” Q: Why did you decide to focus on opioids prescribed at discharge or given during emergency department visits in the United States for this report? AR: Prescription opioid abuse Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Emergency Department Visits Made by Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Among Persons Aged 18 Years or Older, by Race/Ethnicity and Sex
During 2015–2016, 3.5% of adult visits to the emergency department were made by those with chronic kidney disease. A higher percentage of visits were made by men with chronic kidney disease than women (4.1% compared with 2.7%). The same pattern was observed for non-Hispanic black men (5.0%) and women (2.4%). Although the pattern was similar, Read More >
Posted on byMental Health-related Physician Office Visits by Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2012-2014
Questions for Donald Cherry, M.S., Health Statistician, and Lead Author of “Mental Health-related Physician Office Visits by Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2012-2014” Q: Was there a result in your study that you hadn’t expected and that really surprised you? DC: Most of the results confirmed what we’ve seen in current research, so Read More >
Posted on byCharacteristics of Office-based Physician Visits, 2015
Questions for Jill Ashman, Ph.D., Health Statistician, and Lead Author of “Characteristics of Office-based Physician Visits, 2015” Q: What made you write this report on doctors’ office visits? JA: Our intent in producing this data brief is to provide the annual summary of National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) data. Last year we created the Read More >
Posted on byEmergency Department Visits by Patients aged 45 and over with Diabetes: United States, 2015
Questions for Pinyao Rui, Statistician and Author of, “Emergency Department Visits by Patients aged 45 and over with Diabetes: United States, 2015.” Q: Why did you decide to examine emergency department (ED) visits made by patients aged 45 years older with diabetes? PR: We decided to examine emergency department visits made by patients aged 45 Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Emergency Department Visits for Acute Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infection That Had an Antimicrobial Ordered or Prescribed, by Metropolitan Statistical Area — United States, 2008–2015
From 2008–2011 to 2012–2015, the percentage of visits for acute viral upper respiratory tract infection that had an antimicrobial ordered or prescribed decreased from 37.1% to 25.5% among emergency departments (EDs) located in nonmetropolitan statistical areas, but this decline was not seen among EDs in metropolitan statistical areas. In 2008–2011, the percentage was higher among Read More >
Posted on byAmbulatory Surgery Data From Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Centers: United States, 2010
Questions for Margaret J. Hall, Health Statistician and Lead Author of “Ambulatory Surgery Data From Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Centers: United States, 2010.” Q: Why did you decide to do a report on national estimates of surgical and nonsurgical ambulatory procedures performed in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers? MH: The National Center for Health Statistics Read More >
Posted on byEmergency Department Visits Related to Schizophrenia Among Adults Aged 18–64: United States, 2009–2011
Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder with clinical manifestations that may include hallucinations, delusions, and thought and movement disorders. A new NCHS report describes the rate and characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits related to schizophrenia among adults aged 18–64. Key Findings from the Report: During 2009–2011, an estimated 382,000 ED visits related to schizophrenia occurred each Read More >
Posted on byProgress With Electronic Health Record Adoption
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 provides incentive payments to eligible hospitals and providers that demonstrate the meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) system. A new report describes the adoption of EHRs in hospital emergency departments (EDs) and outpatient departments (OPDs) from 2006 through 2011 using Read More >
Posted on byEmergency Department Visits for Motor Vehicle Traffic Injuries: United States, 2010–2011
In spite of improvements in motor vehicle safety in recent years, motor vehicle crashes remain a major source of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Motor vehicle-related deaths and injuries also result in substantial economic and societal costs related to medical care and lost productivity. A new NCHS report describes the rates and characteristics Read More >
Posted on byRural Residents Who Are Hospitalized in Rural and Urban Hospitals: United States, 2010
In 2010, 17% of the U.S. population lived in rural (nonmetropolitan) areas. Many rural areas are medically underserved due to physician (especially specialist) shortages. Rural hospitals often are small, with a low volume of services, and have difficulty remaining financially viable under the regular hospital prospective payment system. Special Medicare hospital payment categories have been Read More >
Posted on byPhysician Experience With Electronic Health Record Systems
A new report from NCHS looks at Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems that meet the meaningful use criteria have specific capabilities associated with efficient and high-quality patient care. The criteria is set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Key Findings from the Report: About three-quarters of physicians with electronic health record systems have systems that Read More >
Posted on byA brief look at emergency room visits
In 2006, about 4 out of every 10 people visited an emergency room. Of those visits– About 22% were seen in less than 15 minutes. About 13% needed hospital admission. Only about 2% needed to transer to higher level or specialized care. The most common diagnosis in emergency departments–injury and poisoning. For more NCHS Fast Stats, Read More >
Posted on byAnti-depressant Use
CNN recently ran a story that has gained some attention. It is entitled CDC: Antidepressants most prescribed drugs in U.S. […]According to a government study, antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. They’re prescribed more than drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches. CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen Read More >
Posted on byNew Emergency Department Report
Released today. Some of the highlights During 2005, an estimated 115.3 million visits were made to hospital EDs, about 39.6 visits per 100 persons. This represents on average roughly 30,000 visits per ED in 2005, a 31 percent increase over 1995 (23,000). Visit rates have shown an increasing trend since 1995 for persons 22–49 years Read More >
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