Frequent flyers are patients who repeatedly show up in an emergency room for medical care. They choose to ride in ambulances, or walk into the emergency department, over and over again, rather than see their own doctor. They visit so often that staff knows them by name. A 2009 study in Texas found that in a span of six years, nine patients had accounted for 2,678 ER visits, costing $3 million -- most definitely frequent flyers.
There may be several reasons for such overuse of emergency departments. The patient may have no insurance and therefore can't afford to see a regular doctor. That patient knows the ER must at least provide lifesaving treatment. (see EMTALA)
A second reason may be mental deficiencies. Of the nine frequent flyers in Texas, seven had mental health diagnoses and eight were drug abusers.
Of course, some are simply attention seekers.
