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Emergency Departments And Care For Marginalized Populations, Irvin B. Harrell

Institute for the Humanities Theses

Healthcare providers in emergency departments (EDs) face a daunting daily task: providing health care in a triage setting to a diverse group of patients many with complex medical issues. Many patients rely on ED services out of financial necessity, when their healthcare issues could be better suited for care from a primary care physician. Many of these already vulnerable patients – minorities, those health illiterate, low-income, uninsured and those with language barriers – must also deal with ED overcrowding and staffing conditions. In some cases, patients leave without being seen while others face bed shortages. This study explores healthcare provider …