New study examines efforts of emergency rooms to redirect non-emergency patients to other care setti

A new analysis of 12 communities under the Studying Health System Change Project examines how hospitals are responding to the pressure of non-emergency use of emergency rooms (Source: "Safety Net Emergency Departments: Creating Safety Valves for Non-Urgent Care," Center for Studying Health System Change, May 7, 2008).  Cleveland is one of the twelve cities studies under this project.

The report finds that many low income people, whether uninsured or on Medicaid, turn the emergency rooms because they lack timely access to care in other settings, even for follow up appointments   Therefore, these patients show up for routine and urgent care at emergency rooms. 

The study reports that most hospitals, especially safety net hospitals, are working to redirect these patients to other, more appropriate and less costly care settings.  However, these efforts are meeting with varied results.

The authors conclude that "a combination of approaches could help stem ED use for non-urgent care, including expansion of community health centers, community clinics and hospital clinics and strategies to improve their accessibility. Alignment of hours of operation and available services among existing providers could increase people's care options at lower costs. Since transportation is a significant barrier for some, bringing services to low-income neighborhoods through mobile vans and school-based services could improve access in a cost-effective way."