Hospitalization rate for direct visits to the ED and the DH.

During the year prior to opening the DH, ED dispositions resulted in a 92% hospital admission rate. During year 1 of the study, the ED admission rate was 70% of visits; over the next 4 years, the average ED admission rate decreased to 48%. DH admission rate varied from 2%-11%. When ED and DH visits were combined, 50% of the overall admissions represented a 40% decrease in admission rate since the opening of the DH.