The authors of the editorial argue that “emergency departments must be integrated into an outcome-centered system that improves the health of populations,” according to the news release. In this system, the ED would improve efficiency, care coordination and readmission rates while continuing to respond to disasters.
The authors suggest several requirements for an ED integrated into an outcome-centered system, according to the release:
• Emergency physicians coordinate and communicate with primary care physicians, nurses and case managers.
• EDs leverage electronic medical records and data exchange networks.
• Hospitals conduct true accounting to measure cost savings in EDs.
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