Patients’ Reasons for Choosing the ED over Ambulatory Care

Understanding the reasons why patients of low socioeconomic status prefer hospital care to ambulatory care is important in developing strategies to increase high-value, lower-cost care and prevent hospital readmission. Researchers interviewed urban patients of low socioeconomic status to identify why they prefer hospital care to ambulatory care. Writing in the July 2013 Health Affairs, the researchers discussed their findings, explaining that these patients perceive hospital care as less expensive, more accessible, and of higher quality than ambulatory care.