Description

For all injury/poisoning episodes that occurred in the past 3 months, IRMEDEMER reports whether or not the injured person received medical advice, treatment, or follow up care from a visit to an emergency department or emergency room for this injury or poisoning.

IRMEDEMER is an injury-level variable.

IRMEDEMER is part of a series of variables initiated in 1997 that systematically report persons' injuries and poisonings, the cause, what the person was doing while sustaining the injury or poisoning, and where she/he was at the time of the injury or poisoning. For related variables and additional information, please see the User note on Injuries and Poisonings or use the IPUMS NHIS search function and drop-down menus.

Comparability

Prior to 2004, respondents were asked where they sought medical attention for the reported injury or poisoning. Responses were recorded as "Mentioned" or "Not Mentioned" for each medical resource the respondent named. Starting in 2004, respondents were asked directly about where they sought medical advice, and responses were recorded as "Yes" or "No". During this shift, the wording of the question and the wording of the responses were changed. For example, prior to 2004, the question wording asked if the injured person had visited an emergency department, compared to 2004-onward, when the respondent was asked if the injured person visited an emergency room as a result of the injury or poisoning.

Universe

Availability

• 2000-2017

Weights

• 2000-2017 : PERWEIGHT