Description

For all hospital inpatient stays (EVENTYPE), EMERROOM indicates whether the hospital stay began with an emergency room visit. Beginning in 2018, EMERROOM is not directly collected and instead is constructed by linking to an emergency room visit.

IPUMS MEPS reports the universe for each variable based on a thorough review of the original MEPS documentation. Investigating the data may reveal cases that do not meet the stated universe. Users are encouraged to validate universes for their analyses.

EMERROOM is on the event record (see RECTYPE for more details on the different record types in IPUMS MEPS). Variables offered on the event record through IPUMS MEPS are derived from the dental visits, other medical expenses, hospital inpatient stays, emergency room visits, outpatient visits, office-based medical provider visits, and home health event files provided by AHRQ. Please see our overview of the event, medical conditions, and prescribed medicines variables, including how those variables are offered through IPUMS MEPS, and general considerations to keep in mind when conducting analyses using these variables.

Comparability

Beginning in 2018, EMERROOM is not directly collected and instead is constructed by linking to an emergency room visit. Otherwise, this variable is comparable over time.

Universe

Availability

• 1996-2021

Weights

• 1996-2021 : PERWEIGHT

Flags