MODESTO BEE
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

By KEN CARLSON
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: October 30, 2006, 05:21:29 AM PST

Insured patients are increasingly using hospital emergency departments even though their health conditions are not emergencies, according to a new study.

The California HealthCare Foundation commissioned a telephone survey that queried 1,402 adults in February and March. The study, released last week, also included a mail survey of more than 500 emergency medical and primary care physicians.

The foundation, a philanthropic organization concerned with improving health care in the state, wanted to know what is driving emergency department crowding, which has resulted inincreased health care spending and is believed to affect the quality of care.

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