Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Healthcare Administration, DHA

School

Health Services

Advisor

James Rohrer

Abstract

Presently, extensive research supporting the overcrowding of emergency departments (EDs) and behavior disorder patients presenting to EDs are prevalent. There exists a knowledge gap between specific behavior disorders diagnoses associated to repeated visits to the ED. The purpose of this quantitative study was to address whether a relationship exists between patients with psychotic and/or substance abuse disorders and the repeated ED visits within 72 hours. The Andersen Behavioral framework model and the secondary data were used in the study. The cross-sectional archival data from the 2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey was analyzed by using cross-tabulation with the 2 test followed by multiple logistic regression analysis. The author found that the primary independent variables were not significant in (un)weighted multivariate results. However, the primary independent variables were statistically significant in the unweighted cross tabulation analyses, along with the covariates of homelessness, geographical region, and gender. The findings also showed a strong likelihood of return to the ED for the primary independent variables and covariates. The implications of this study with regard to social change and health care practices are providing proper outpatient resources through behavior disorder urgent care facilities, behavior disorder travel clinics, follow-up communications directly to the patients’ care managers, and creating a treatment team, which will decrease future financial effects on the healthcare system.

Download

Share

 
COinS