Nation's Failure to Support Emergency Patients Graded C-

Tags:: Emergency Room Health Care Reform Report Card Acep Quality Patient Safety Medical Liability

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By: Medialink
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Updated: 03-Nov-09
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Added: 15-Dec-08

Economic woes and a failing health care system mean more people than ever before are relying on emergency care at a time when the nation is receiving a C- grade for its support of emergency patients, according to a Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Nicholas Jouriles, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians(ACEP) called on President-elect Obama and the new Congress to make emergency patients top priority in health care reform proposals and to convene a hearing on the Access to Emergency Medical Services Act.

The Report Card measures state support for emergency patients - not the quality of care provided at specific emergency departments or hospitals. The national category grades are: Access to Emergency Care: D-, Quality and Patient Safety: C+, Medical Liability Environment: C-, Public Health and Injury Prevention: C, and Disaster Preparedness: C+.

Produced for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)