1. DATA AND ER VISITS ASSOCIATES IN PRIMARY CARE MEDICINE’S ASSESSMENT AND PLAN

2. IDENTIFYING BARRIERS AND SEEKING SOLUTIONS AN EXCEL SPREAD SHEET WAS CREATED. DATA WAS COLLECTED WITH PATIENT NAME, DATE OF ER VISIT AN ENTRY IN THE EMR WAS MADE IN A REPORTABLE FIELD. EX: ER VISIT 11/24/15 ER VISITS WERE IDENTIFIED BY CURRENT CARE AND INCOMING FAXES FROM FACILITIES. OUTBOUND CALLS WERE MADE TO PATIENTS FOLLOWING AN ER VISIT NOTIFICATION FOLLOW UP VISITS WERE SCHEDULED, PHYSICIANS WERE NOTIFIED IF PATIENT WAS SEEN IN THE ER DURING OFFICE HOURS WHEN SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS WERE AVAILABLE.

3. WHAT WE LEARNED Some high utilizers had behavioral health conditions We could educate our patients about when to use the ER. We have shown that we can reduce ER visits Conversations are important to identify why patients use the ER

4. SOME SOLUTIONS NOTIFYING PROVIDERS AN ALERT WAS PLACED IN THE CHART FOR THE PHYSICIAN OR NURSE PRACTITIONER TO DISCUSS FREQUENT ER VISITS WITH THE PATIENTS. THE INTENT WAS TO DISCUSS ER USE WITH PATIENTS THAT COULD HAVE RECEIVED CARE IN THE OFFICE. HAVING DISCUSSIONS WE INVITED THE HEALTH PLANS TO COME AND DISCUSS WAYS THEY COULD HELP. OUR DEDICATED MEDICAL ASSISTANTS CALL PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL OR ER AND SCHEDULES FOLLOW UP VISITS. OUR NURSE CONTACTS THE PATIENT FOR MED REC’S AND DISCHARGE PLANS WE STARTED AN ER COMMITTEE TO MEET TO DISCUSS SOLUTIONS RESOURCES WE HAVE CREATED A BROCHURE WE HAVE MORE ACCESS WE HAVE A YOUTUBE VIDEO HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=1X DV3IW2TMG WE HAVE FRAMES IN OUR EXAM ROOMS