Freestanding emergency departments may increase out-of-pocket spending for patients

(University of Arizona Health Sciences) A collaborative study led by researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix and Rice University found that freestanding emergency departments can increase out-of-pocket spending, health-care utilization and price per visit. Freestanding emergency departments deliver emergency care similar to a hospital ER. However, unlike an ER, these freestanding clinics are not physically attached to an acute-care hospital.