More patients seek out urgent-care clinics over EDs
Accreditation Connection, August 8, 2008
Patients in need of immediate care for illness or injuries are growing more and more likely to turn to urgent-care clinics outside of the hospital setting, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
There are currently more than 8,000 urgent-care centers in the country, only roughly 1,200 of which are associated with hospitals, though that number is expected to grow. Between the 1995 and 2005, a study by the CDC found that the number of emergency departments (ED) had decreased, while the number of annual ED visits had increased by 20%.
The Urgent Care Association of America recently reached an agreement with The Joint Commission to take over accreditation and publish national quality standards for urgent-care clinics by 2010. Use of an accreditation program through The Joint Commission could make it easier for clinics to work with insurers and health plans.
To read the full article, click here.
Comments
0 comments on “More patients seek out urgent-care clinics over EDs ”
Related Products
-
Briefings on The Joint Commission
Briefings on The Joint Commission will help you with all of your accreditation and survey preparation needs. Every month...
-
The Joint Commission Mock Tracer Made Simple
This updated edition of our annual best-seller includes new tools and case studies of successful tracers from facilities...
-
Staffing Effectiveness Data:
You've spent an enormous amount of time, money, and effort collecting staffing effectiveness data - and you can still put it...
-
Simplifying Nursing Documentation
Implement a "two-form" solution that will cut nursing documentation in half while fully complying with Joint Commission...
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- HIPAA Q&A: TPO disclosures to a business associate
- Q/A: Coding infusions to correct low potassium levels
- Topic: CMS, OESS post new security compliance review information, checklist
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- The debate continues: Nurses who reported physician to the Texas Medical Board file federal appeal
- State medical board will hear unprofessional charges against OB-GYN
- Capturing all necessary codes for IUD insertion and removal can be challenging
- QA:Coding multiple initial infusions
- Major mobile operators to support free text alerts
- E-mailed
-
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Q/A: Coding infusions to correct low potassium levels
- Know criteria for coverage when podiatrists use Dermagraft® tissue substitute
- Note: Clarification of reference (non-patient) laboratory testing
- HIPAA Q&A: TPO disclosures to a business associate
- Get the facts on coding for non-biodegradeable drug delivery implants
- Facility E/M Levels, 2009 OPPS
- Do not separately report defibrillation
- Defining 'integral' for self-administered drugs is challenging
- Consider the big picture before querying physicians
- Searched