A new report released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites visits to the nation’s EDs reached a record high of nearly 114 million in 2003, while the number of EDs decreased by 14 percent from 1993 to 2003. Chief among the reasons for the increase is the number of adult visits, particularly for those over 65 years of age. Among people aged 65-74, the ED visit rate was more than five times higher for those residing in a nursing home or other institution compared with those not living in an institutionalized setting. The report also finds that Medicaid patients were four times (81 visits per 100 people) more likely to seek treatment from an ED than those with private insurance (22 visits per 100 people.) The average waiting time to see a physician had not changed much at 46.5 minutes, which study authors attribute to a number of efficiencies such as “fast track” units that have been implemented in recent years. For a copy of the full report, conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, visit www.cdc.gov/nchs.