Planning for an annual episodic mass gathering: emergency department and clinic utilization in Yellowstone

Wilderness Environ Med. 2000 Winter;11(4):257-61. doi: 10.1580/1080-6032(2000)011[0257:pfaaem]2.3.co;2.

Abstract

Objective: Planning and providing emergency and primary care for a large transient population of visitors and employees in a national park can be problematic. Furthermore, planning for emergency and primary health care needs of visitors and itinerant workers in a wilderness area national park has not been well documented. A study was performed to analyze emergency and primary health care utilization in a national park.

Methods: Data was gathered from all patients presenting to Lake Hospital Emergency Department in Yellowstone in 1995, and a retrospective chart review was performed.

Results: Two distinct populations with different health care needs were identified.

Conclusion: Utilization analysis revealed differences between conventional mass gatherings and the mass gatherings in Yellowstone. Because of the unique conditions and populations found in a wilderness area, conventional mass gathering emergency medical service models may not be an appropriate model for planning health care in a national park. Analysis of utilization data can help plan resources for emergency and primary health care for a park population.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Emergency Medical Services / organization & administration*
  • Emergency Medical Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Planning*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Needs Assessment*
  • Northwestern United States
  • Occupational Health
  • Recreation*
  • Rural Health Services / organization & administration*