80% of Adults concerned about contracting COVID-19 in ER: ACEP/Morning Consult Poll

This week, ACEP released a public opinion poll to gauge concerns around seeking emergency care amidst COVID-19 and sentiment around federal support for emergency physicians. Here is the press release and the webpage where you can see the full data and an infographic.  

Key findings

• Four in five adults (80 percent) say they are concerned about contracting COVID-19 from another patient or visitor if they need to go to the emergency room.

• Nearly a third of adults (29 percent) have actively delayed or avoided seeking medical care due to concerns about contracting COVID-19.

• Adults overwhelmingly believe the federal government needs to support efforts to increase access to protective equipment for emergency physicians (97 percent).

• The vast majority (91 percent) believe emergency physicians should receive hazard pay. 

• Eighty-six percent of adults believe the federal government is responsible for alleviating the financial burden on hospitals during COVID-19, and 82 percent believe insurance companies are responsible.