The news reports are telling us lately that people are calling 911 when its not an emergency and tying up the emergency response teams who are needed for “real” emergencies. But what is an emergency? Don’t assume people know this. It is part of the disconnect between patient care and patient safety. In 2010 I […]
A few years back, I injured my right leg and had to go urgently to an emergency room in a busy suburban hospital not far from my home. As both a physician and engaged patient, I observed numerous patient safety lapses during my care, none of which, fortunately, resulted in harm. Although I was distressed […]
In December, I discussed the Ever Growing Challenge posed by Frequent ED Users, their prevalence and their characteristics. Here, I’d like to explain why the combination of emergency department (ED) case management, care networks and workflow automation is a pragmatic approach that increases each of the components that encompass value in healthcare – safety, satisfaction […]
With the rapid rise of accountable care organizations, transitioning from fee-for-service to population-based contracting is the new norm. Population management refocuses providers and administrators from volume to value and is great news for patients. Value is the triad of safety, satisfaction and savings. It can be viewed as a three-legged stool where the span and […]
Unintentional overdose deaths due to prescription narcotics have quadrupled since 1999 and now outnumber those involving heroin and cocaine.[i],[ii] As a result, such misuse of medications has been accurately described as a national epidemic by the CDC and consumes over $70 billion in health care costs. [iii],[iv] Controlling patients who frequent the emergency department (ED) […]