Indiana became the third state in the nation to end hospital diversions due to overcrowding in the emergency department and hospital.
“Ending diversion practices was a joint decision among those who work in emergency care,” Indiana State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, MD, said in an Aug. 31 news release. “Unfortunately, we saw a significant increase in crowd-based emergency services diversion during the pandemic. Since that time, partners have been working diligently to get to today.”
Here is what to know.
1. Starting Sept. 1, hospitals and emergency medical providers will restrict hospital diversion use to cases of disaster and critical infrastructure failure.
2. The initiative was a collaborative effort between Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana EMS Commission, Indiana Hospital Association, Indiana Fire Chiefs Association, Indiana Emergency Nurses Association, Indiana Emergency Medical Services Association and the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
3. These organizations will continue to work together to develop patient-centered solutions to ED crowding.
4. Hospital diversions involve diverting ambulances to other facilities during times of high patient volume, and is a temporary measure to alleviate crowding. Hospital diversion has been found to increase transport times, create EMS shortages, delay and reduce continuity of care, according to the release.
5. In January 2009, Massachusetts became the first state to ban hospital diversion. Rhode Island also banned diversion in November 2024.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
