Emergency Department Closures and Patient Outcomes: Scoping Review of Impacts on Care, Equity, and System Performance

This scoping review aims to assess the impacts of emergency department (ED) closures on patient outcomes, healthcare equity, and overall system performance. The authors found that while ED closures generally lead to negative effects on mortality rates for time-sensitive conditions and disproportionately impact equity-deserving populations, the long-term consequences may be less severe in well-resourced systems. The review highlights significant gaps in the literature regarding the effects on non-time-sensitive conditions and marginalized groups, suggesting areas for future research.