Free-standing emergency departments on the rise

Free-standing emergency departments are on the rise, according to Physician News Digest. The majority of patients currently visit emergency departments for non-urgent and semi-urgent care, and visiting a free-standing emergency department, which is not attached or associated with a hospital, can save them money and reduce wait times in hospital-associated emergency departments. They aren’t the best choice, however, for true emergencies, such as heart attacks, and it’s difficult for patients to know which facilities offer which services, say critics.