Hit and quit it. This taboo phrase signifying a one-night stand may make one a bit uncomfortable, yet most can’t look away. Except in healthcare, we’ve been looking away for decades. Every day millions of Americans seek these ‘no-strings attached’ encounters with our healthcare system. They are trips to the emergency department (ED).
According to over 130 million ED visits occur annually, at a cost of over $30 billion. While the exact number of unnecessary visits to the ED is unknown, a considerable portion occur among low-income, Medicaid recipients.
