Emergency Department Visits for Serious Diagnoses During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected health care utilization in the United States. Although reductions in routine outpatient visits and elective procedures were intentional in preparation for increases in COVID-19-related volume,1 National Syndromic Surveillance Program data indicate that weekly emergency department (ED) visits decreased 42% during the early stages of the pandemic.2 This reduction may have been driven by a public fear of seeking care,3,4 ultimately delaying interventions for time-sensitive serious conditions.