Articles: emergency-services.
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A new "episode of care" definition of emergency care was developed, consisting of the emergency department encounter and all subsequent, related care delivered within 48 hrs from the initial contact. Data were analyzed by ICD-9-CM Major Diagnostic Category (MDC) and surgical intervention using 1.6 million episodes generated by 809,145 separate patients from a national claims database. ⋯ For several MDCs, hospitalization and/or surgical procedures were also major determinants of overall episodic charges. Results support the premise that economic analysis and reimbursement of emergency care benefits from the use of episodic data.
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Comparative Study
Is continuity of care preserved in children who utilize the pediatric emergency department?
Inner city families often use multiple sites for nonemergent medical care, including the pediatric emergency department. This practice raises concerns about continuity of care. The present study examined one aspect of continuity of care: Do children who receive care in a pediatric emergency department return to their primary care site so that appropriate follow up may be obtained? ⋯ Our study shows that revisit rates were comparable for the two groups. We conclude that the rate of compliance with follow-up recommendations is similar for those who utilized the pediatric emergency department versus those who used the primary care site.
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To assess the effectiveness of a specific, targeted clinical policy regarding the evaluation of nontraumatic chest pain in the emergency department (ED) to modify physician evaluation and management. ⋯ We conclude that the dissemination of the ACEP chest pain clinical policy has not significantly modified the behavior of our metropolitan area emergency physicians regarding the evaluation and management of patients who present to the ED with a chief complaint of nontraumatic chest pain.
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Health Care Manage Rev · Jan 1995
The effect of urgency on patient satisfaction and future emergency department choice.
Satisfaction with various aspects of a hospital visit may affect a patient's decisions about future patronage. Relationships between aspects of satisfaction, future use, and referral intentions, moderated by urgency, are explored in this study of 493 privately insured individuals. Results confirm the strong association between satisfaction and future intentions already established for other medical services and support increased attention to interactive marketing in medical settings.
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To evaluate a comprehensive diagnostic 9-hour evaluation (Heart ER Program) for patients with possible acute ischemic coronary syndromes. ⋯ The Heart ER program provides an effective method for evaluating low- to moderate-risk patients with possible acute ischemic coronary syndrome in the ED setting.