{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T19:24:49Z","timestamp":1792178689823,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"Digital Journal of Opthalmology","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,12]],"date-time":"2020-10-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1602460800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Digit J Ophthalmol"],"abstract":"<jats:p>PurposeTo describe the utilization trends of a dedicated ophthalmology emergency department (ED) in Boston, Massachusetts.MethodsThe medical records of 500 randomly selected patients who presented at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE) Emergency Department (ED) from January 2015 to March 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Data were analyzed using the Pearson \u03c72\u00a0test and multiple logistic regression. The primary study outcome measure was whether a patient\u2019s visit was emergent or nonemergent. Emergent or nonemergent conditions were classified based on the diagnosis and treatment required at follow-up appointments. Nonemergent diagnoses were classified as conditions that could have been seen as an outpatient without negative consequences for vision.ResultsOf the 500 cases, 252 were males and 248 were females. The median age was 45 years (range, 2- 101 years). The most common diagnoses were posterior vitreous detachment (8.6%), corneal abrasion (8.4%), dry eye syndrome (7%), and viral conjunctivitis (5.4%). Of the total, 92.6% of patients originated from within Massachusetts. The majority of patients were self-referred (78.6%) or referred from another hospital (12.8%). Nonemergent visits accounted for 49.4% of patients seen. Compared to patients who presented with duration of symptoms for ?1 week, patients who presented with symptoms of &lt;1 week were more likely to present with an emergent condition (8.8% vs 41.8%). Referrals from an outside ophthalmologist or hospital were predictive of emergent patient visits (OR, resp., 1.971 [95% CI, 0.478-3.462;\u00a0P\u00a0= 0.01]; 1.040 [95% CI, 0.462-1.616;\u00a0P\u00a0&lt; 0.001]).ConclusionsIn our study, nonemergent patient visits comprised nearly half of all ophthalmology ED visits. Emergent visits were associated with acute symptoms and referrals from outside healthcare providers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5693\/djo.01.2020.02.002","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,8]],"date-time":"2021-04-08T20:01:56Z","timestamp":1617912116000},"page":"31-35","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Utilization trends of an ophthalmology-specific emergency department: the Massachusetts Eye and Ear experience"],"prefix":"10.5693","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Leangelo N.","family":"Hall, BA","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karen W.","family":"Jeng-Miller, MD, MPH","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthew","family":"Gardiner, MD","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Esther Lee","family":"Kim, MD","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"3822","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1111\/jgs.12072","article-title":"National trends in emergency department use, care patterns, and quality of care of older adults in the United States","volume":"61","author":"Pines","year":"2013","unstructured":"1. Pines JM, Mullins PM, Cooper JK, Feng LB, Roth KE. National trends in emergency department use, care patterns, and quality of care of older adults in the United States. J Am Geriatr Soc 2013;61:12-7.","journal-title":"J Am Geriatr Soc"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1302","DOI":"10.1197\/j.aem.2004.08.032","article-title":"Nonurgent emergency department patient characteristics and barriers to primary care","volume":"11","author":"Afilalo","year":"2004","unstructured":"2. Afilalo J, Marinovich A, Afilalo M, et al. Nonurgent emergency department patient characteristics and barriers to primary care. Acad Emerg Med 2004;11:1302-10.","journal-title":"Acad Emerg Med"},{"key":"ref2","unstructured":"3. Uscher-Pines L, Pines J, Kellerman A, Gillen E, Mehrotra A. Emergency department visits for nonurgent conditions: systematic literature review. Am J Manag Care 2013;19:47-59."},{"key":"ref3","unstructured":"4. Sridhar J, Isom RF, Schiffman JC, et al. 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Management of eye emergencies in the accident and emergency department by senior house officers: a national survey. J Accid Emerg Med 1997;14:157-8.","journal-title":"J Accid Emerg Med"},{"issue":"6034","key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.2.6034.509","article-title":"A general practitioner in an ophthalmology accident and emergency department","volume":"2","author":"Price","year":"1976","unstructured":"10. Price M, Phillips CI. A general practitioner in an ophthalmology accident and emergency department. Br Med J 1976;2(6034):509-11.","journal-title":"Br Med J"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1177\/014107688307600408","article-title":"Analysis of all new cases seen in a busy regional center ophthalmic casualty department during a 24- week period","volume":"76","author":"Vernon","year":"1983","unstructured":"11. Vernon SA. 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