Emergency Department Visits in Which the Patient Left Without Being Seen

In 2001, patients visiting emergency departments in the United States spent an average of 3.2 hours waiting to be seen. This may be a result of the 20% increase in ED visit volumes over the past 10 years as the number of ED facilities has decreased by 15%.¹² Although there are many reasons that may lead a patient seeking care in an ED to leave without being seen, long waits tend to exacerbate this problem.

Figure 4.2. Emergency department visits in which the patient left without being seen, 1997-1998, 1999-2000, and 2001-2002

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Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1997-1998, 1999-2000, 2001-2002.

• From 1997-1998 to 2001-2002, the overall percentage of emergency department visits in which the patient left before being seen increased from 1.2% to 1.7% (Figure 4.2).

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