Swamped: Emergency Department Crowding and Patient Mortality

Lindsey Woodworth

Journal of Health Economics, 2020, vol. 70, issue C

Abstract: U.S. emergency departments are experiencing extreme levels of crowding. This study estimates the impact of emergency department crowding on patient mortality. Identification relies on the abrupt crowding shocks felt by “old” emergency departments at the time a new emergency department opens nearby. Using death records linked to hospital administrative records, I find that a 10% alleviation of emergency department patient volume significantly lowers the average patient’s chance of mortality. Improvements appear to be realized both inside the hospital and after the patient has left.

Keywords: Emergency departments; Regression discontinuity; Mortality; Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D60 I10 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:70:y:2020:i:c:s0167629618311676

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2019.102279

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