Table 2

Dimensions of emergency care by resource setting

Emergency care dimensionLow resource
setting
Middle resource
setting
High resource
setting
TemporalRelatively long time from illness onset to presentation for care; distribution skewed to rightVariable time from illness onset to presentation for care; distribution with long tailsShorter time from illness onset to presentation for care; distribution skewed to left
SpatialSupermajority of initial illness presentation to local acute intake areas of available health facilities with middle-level health providers.Variable presentations across health system, from local clinics to district hospitalsSupermajority of initial illness presentations to hospital-based emergency departments with physician staff
Health burdens and prioritiesSubstantial burden of disease related to acute infectious disease, injuries, high burden of paediatric illness; certain settings may have unusually or uniquely high prevalence of certain exposures or conditions (eg, Ebola, extreme heat)Variable range of threats across settings; larger overall burden of disease associated with non-communicable and communicable disease related to risk transitionSubstantial proportion of disease related to acute exacerbations of chronic disease
System Capacity
(clinical care and research)
Lower average levels of training among care providers, lower per capita provider rates, lower research capacityVariable skill and capacity, typically concentrated in urban areas; variable research capacityHigher per capita rates of physician coverage, relatively high research capacity