Medical Staff

In the news: Drug overdoses result in hefty annual charges in the ED

Medical Staff Leader Connection, March 10, 2011

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A study in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine reveals that drug overdoses result in $1.4 billion in emergency department charges annually, 41.1% of which is paid by Medicare and Medicaid. Antidepressants and analgesics account for nearly 44% of drug-related visits to the ED. Children younger than 5 years old had the highest rate for unintentional poisoning, and hospitals in rural areas experienced more visits to the ED for drug poisoning than other areas.



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