Carilion Roanoke (Va.) Memorial Hospital and LewisGale Medical Center in Salem, Va., which have the region’s biggest EDs, had ED patient volume increases of 2 and 5.2 percent, respectively. LewisGale Hospital Pulaski (Va.) had a 10.3 percent increase, and Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg, Va., had a 9 percent increase.
Hospitals have employed several strategies to address increased visits, including establishing fast-track programs to treat non-emergency cases separately, connecting patients with primary care physicians and educating patients on ED alternatives.
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