What is the best secondary resource for finding data on emergency room visits?

The National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS) is the most suitable secondary resource for obtaining data specifically related to emergency room visits. This survey is designed to provide national estimates regarding the use of hospital services, including emergency department visits. It focuses on various aspects of hospital care and captures detailed information about patient demographics, diagnoses, and services received during these visits.

The NHCS is comprehensive in its approach to documenting hospital care patterns, making it a vital tool for researchers, policymakers, and health educators who need to analyze trends in emergency room usage or develop interventions targeted at improving emergency care services.

The other resources listed, while valuable for different aspects of public health data, do not specifically emphasize emergency room visits. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) primarily collects health-related information through interviews and focuses more broadly on health status, health care access, and health behaviors. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) combines interviews and physical examinations, concentrating primarily on nutrition and health-related issues rather than emergency care specifically. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) gathers data on health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services, but it does not focus on emergency room visit data. Thus, NHCS stands out