Effect of a Neighborhood Health Center on Hospital Emergency Room Use

A study of the effect of a neighborhood health center on emergency room use of the major hospital serving the community showed no change in the level of utilization by the community. However, health center registrants who used the emergency room were more likely to have been referred by a physician, to have a regular source of primary medical care, and to be using the emergency room as back-up for their regular care than those patients who were not registered at the health center.