A dramatic rise in the use of emergency departments (EDs) has focused attention on their importance. According to Modern Healthcare’s 1998 Construction & Design Survey, published in March 1998, construction starts of new emergency centers increased 25 percent from 1996 to 1997. The same period showed a 34 percent increase in the number of emergency centers on the drawing boards. Nationwide, 14 percent of ED visits result in hospital admissions; many urban hospitals receive upwards of 45 percent of their admissions through the ED. The statistical rise in ED use can be seen in Figure 1, which

Figure 1: Nationwide ED Utilization 1973-1994

demonstrates use over the past 20 years. The ED has come to be seen by many as the new Front Door of the hospital—as important as the lobby and other high-end areas in creating an overall impression of an institution, its attitude toward its patients, and the quality of the care offered.

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