Delayed Access to Health Care: Risk Factors, Reasons, and Consequences
Annals of Internal MedicinePublished 15 February 1991
Joel S. Weissman, Robert S. Stern, Stephen L. Fielding, Arnold M. Epstein
Citations614
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score3.38
SNIP3.27
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TL;DR
Patients generally thought to be disadvantaged are at especially high risk for delaying care for conditions that eventually lead to hospitalization, and interventions that reduce delays seem especially important.
Abstract
Patients generally thought to be disadvantaged are at especially high risk for delaying care for conditions that eventually lead to hospitalization. Because these delays are associated with longer hospital stays and potentially poorer health outcomes, interventions that reduce delays seem especially important.
Keywords
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