Innovative Strategies Reducing Unnecessary Emergency Department Visits and Closing Care Gaps

With an ever-increasing patient load, leaders at high-volume emergency departments are implementing innovative strategies to reduce unnecessary visits and eliminate care gaps. These initiatives aim to connect patients with appropriate care and resources, prevent readmissions, and reduce emergency department volume. The approach emphasizes outpatient follow-up care, patient education, and community outreach to encourage the use of urgent care centers.

Transitioning Patients into Primary Care

One such example is Parkland Health's system for transitioning patients into primary care. This strategy targets closing care gaps by ensuring patients have access to primary care resources, thereby reducing the need for emergency department visits. Such a system not only streamlines the patient journey but also ensures the effective utilization of healthcare resources.

The Role of Telehealth and Outpatient Services

Renown Regional's use of telehealth and outpatient services is another successful strategy in reducing unnecessary emergency department volumes. With the current advancements in technology, telehealth services have become a vital component of the healthcare system. They provide patients with access to healthcare professionals from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for unnecessary hospital visits. Additionally, outpatient services ensure continuous care for patients who do not require hospital admission, thereby freeing up emergency department resources for more critical cases.

Continuous Education and Expanded Clinic Hours

St. Joseph's University Medical Center has focused on continuous education and expanding clinic hours as part of its strategy to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits. Educating patients about their health and providing them with adequate resources can significantly reduce the likelihood of unnecessary hospital visits. Furthermore, expanded clinic hours ensure that healthcare services are accessible to patients outside regular working hours, further reducing the burden on emergency departments.

The Use of Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

Today, hospitals are also using analytics and artificial intelligence to improve patient experience and optimize clinical processes. Techniques such as cameras and sensors in patient rooms can recognize conditions that require attention, such as patients leaving their bed or taking a fall. This helps to direct nurses' attention to patients with immediate needs while improving satisfaction and reducing stress levels of patients and nurses.

Cost as a Factor for Seeking Emergency Department Care

A study discussed in ScienceDirect aimed to understand whether cost was a factor for seeking emergency department (ED) care, and if any particular subgroups including race, ethnicity, and sex were less likely to obtain such care. Women and participants employed for wages or self-employed are less likely to visit the ED due to cost, while retired individuals are significantly less likely to encounter cost as a restriction. This study highlighted the reasons why patients may neglect ED care and provided statistics on the number of people admitted to the ED each year in the US and the percentage of non-urgent admissions.

Conclusion

The strategies implemented by high-volume hospitals serve as a blueprint for other healthcare institutions. By transitioning patients into primary care, utilizing telehealth and outpatient services, focusing on continuous education, and optimizing clinical processes using analytics and artificial intelligence, hospitals can effectively reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and close care gaps. The emphasis on outpatient follow-up care, patient education, and community outreach also plays a crucial role in encouraging the use of urgent care centers over emergency departments.