Source Article – Emergency department readiness: navigating rising acuity and coverage shifts

Vizient Sg2 reports that while emergent visits to the emergency room are up 6%, urgent visits to the emergency room have been flat for the last four quarters.  While the urgent visits have stabilized it is pointed out that “continued efforts to redirect low-acuity patients to alternative care sites remain essential to improving ED throughput and preserving capacity for higher-acuity cases.”

Proper utilization of care settings lowers healthcare costs, accelerates speed to care, improves patient satisfaction and even improves patient outcomes!  

Be sure and check out the charts in the link showing:

• ED average length of stay for urgent vs. emergent visits
• ED forecasted visit data 2025-2035
• Trends in payer mix for urgent vs. emergent visits

In the Why it Matters section – “Redefine the ED within the broader ambulatory portfolio to improve lower-acuity access, such as implementing virtual triage, extending operating hours for urgent care centers and primary care clinics and increasing remote patient monitoring. Systems with a robust portfolio have already seen an accelerated decline in urgent ED volumes and a reduction of boarding in the emergency department. “

Urgent Care continues to be – Expert Care That’s Both Convenient and Cost-Effective!