About The Study: Researchers found in this analysis of nationally representative health record data that emergency department (ED) deaths accounted for 11.3% of total deaths from 2010 to 2019, and 33.2% of all decedents nationally visited the ED within one month of their death. These deaths were more common during or after ED visits by patients who were older and those with more comorbidities. These findings suggest emergency medicine practitioners must be able to identify patients for whom end-of-life care is necessary or preferred and have the resources necessary to delivery this care.
Authors: Jonathan Elmer, M.D., M.S., of the University of Pittsburgh, is the corresponding author.
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(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.40399)
