U.S. hospitals routinely turn ambulances away in an emergency -- further proof that our health system is in need of comprehensive reforms, according to a report released today by the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation. 

In the report entitled, "Ambulance Diversions: What They Are, Why We Care, and What To Do," Guy Clifton, MD, neurosurgeon and Physician Advisor to the New America Foundation, suggests that ambulance diversions are a result of an increased reliance on Emergency Departments (EDs) for primary care (especially by the uninsured), inefficiencies in hospital practice, and bed capacity that is inadequate or unstaffed.

"The pervasiveness of ambulance diversions puts us all at risk.  Comprehensive health reforms that both incentivize hospitals to improve the quality of their practice and ensure all Americans have health coverage, would reduce the frequency of ambulance diversions and make sure our emergency system functions at its highest level when patients need it the most," said Dr. Clifton.

"Ambulance diversions are further evidence that covering all Americans is a necessary step towards improving the quality of patient care in the U.S.," Clifton continued.

An ambulance diversion occurs when a hospital ED cannot care for additional emergency patients.  When a hospital is "on diversion" it redirects ambulances from their ED to another hospital or medical facility.  One ambulance is diverted every minute in the U.S. according to the Institute of Medicine.

"Ambulance Diversions: What They Are, Why We Care, and What To Do"

• Ambulance diversions pose a health threat to Americans needing emergency care.  Anyone, regardless of insurance status, can be diverted from a hospital in an emergency. Ambulance diversions impact both emergency trips to the hospital and transports from one hospital to another. 
• Standardizing ambulance diversion criteria and covering the uninsured could help reduce ambulance diversions.   Standard criteria for when a hospital can put itself on diversion should be established and adopted by all hospitals.  These criteria might include: percentage of hospital beds currently in use; the number of staff on duty; and, the number of people in the ED waiting room.

The large number of uninsured patients causes increased strain on already over-taxed emergency departments.  Making sure all Americans have quality, affordable health coverage will help keep patients out of the hospital for non-emergent treatment and allow EDs to function more efficiently.   

For more information visit the New Health Dialogue blog at www.newhealthdialogue.org .

Contact:
Elizabeth Carpenter
New America Foundation
401-529-9379 (cell)
202-986-2700 (office)
carpenter@newamerica.net