Ambulance Diversions

Every minute in the United States, an ambulance is turned away from a hospital because of a practice known as ambulance diversion. Diverting ambulances away from emergency departments (EDs) poses a serious threat to the health outcomes of both the insured and uninsured population. Ambulance diversions also indicate a struggling health system in need of comprehensive delivery system reforms.

What is an Ambulance Diversion?

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.

Why Do Diversions Matter?

Ambulance diversions pose a health risk to anyone who needs immediate medical attention. Furthermore, ambulance diversions are an indication that individuals are using EDs for their primary care, and that hospitals have inadequate bed capacities, and/or are being poorly managed.

What Can We Do to Fix This Problem?

There are two major possible policy solutions for ED diversion:

• Standardizing Ambulance Diversion Criteria
• Covering the Uninsured

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