A5 ADMISSION AND RE-ADMISSION FOR UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING ARE MORE COMMON IN REGIONS UNDERREPRESENTED BY GASTROENTEROLOGISTS: A POPULATION BASED COHORT STUDY

Background Lack of access to gastroenterologists may influence outcomes for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Aims To evaluate admission and re-admissions for patients with UGIB across the five health zones in Alberta that vary by access to local gastroenterologists. Methods Administrative databases identified all patients presenting to an emergency department with an UGIB who were admitted to hospital in Alberta from 2010 to 2015 (n =...