Background: A 2005 study examined emergency department (ED) utilization by homeless patients in the United States. Within the following 5 years, unemployment increased by 5%.

Objective: The objective was to analyze changes in ED utilization between 2005 and 2010 by homeless patients and compare with nonhomeless visits.

Methods: Data from the 2010 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were evaluated.

Results: Approximately 679,854 visits were made by homeless patients, the majority of which were made by men (72.3%) and patients between the ages of 45 and 64 (50.5%). Homeless patients were twice as likely to be uninsured. ED visits by homeless patients had increased by 44% during the 5-year period. Arrival to the ED by ambulance increased by 14% between the study years, and homeless patients were less likely to be admitted.

Conclusion: The number of visits by homeless patients in the ED increased proportionally to an overall increase in ED visits between 2005 and 2010.