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Safety-net hospitals seek ED alternatives for non-urgent patients

Case Management Weekly, May 14, 2008

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The Center for Studying Health System Change,  a non-partisan policy research organization located in Washington, DC, released a report last week discussing the steps some hospitals are taking to help uninsured and under-served populations find non-urgent care instead of always turning to busy EDs, where treatment costs are expensive.

The findings of the report were based on site visits to safety-net hospitals in 12 nationally representative metropolitan communities in 2007. Safety-net hospitals are those that serve a large uninsured, low-income, or Medicaid population.

The authors of the report said that many facilities are helping patients with non-urgent conditions find alternative providers including local clinics that offer same-day appointments; others are adding primary care in their own facility. However, the demand for care often exceeds the supply, the authors of the report said. They called for Medicaid reimbursements to be enhanced in order to motivate private practitioners to treat more low-income patients. The authors also say that it is necessary to inform underprivileged patients of ED alternatives via media and other outreach campaigns.

Source: Center for Studying Health System Change: Safety Net Hospital Emergency Departments: Creating Safety Valves for Non-Urgent Care

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