The effect of tourism on emergency medical services: The New Jersey Shore

The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether tourist-dependent regions experience a burden on their emergency medical care system that is significantly different than that of non-tourist regions. A model is constructed which takes into account both hierarchical and behavioral factors as the relate to the use of medical services. By comparing usage of emergency medical services in control and tourist-dependent regions, the impact of tourists on different levels of the emergency services hierarchy is ascertained. By comparing subregions within the tourist area, differences in the high-risk behavior of tourists are examined, and explanations for these behaviors are offered. Finally, suggestions are made for intercession into high-risk tourist behaviors in the hope of reducing the impact of these behaviors on the emergency medical care system.