By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 7 Ways to Reduce ER Admissions and Readmissions
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > 7 Ways to Reduce ER Admissions and Readmissions
BusinessHospital Administration

7 Ways to Reduce ER Admissions and Readmissions

Abby Norman
Abby Norman
Share
5 Min Read
Readmissions Revolving Door
SHARE

Readmissions Revolving DoorFor many hospitals, the emergency room is the busiest place for both staff and patients. Overcrowding, long wait times and inefficient care plague a lot of U.S. hospitals and there is a growing need for solutions.

Contents
  • 1. Limit Opioid Prescriptions
  • 2. Know the Primary Care Doctors In Your Community
  • 3. Know What Patients Have Asked For Narcotics Before
  • 4. Know the Mental Health Resources in Your Community
  • 5. Develop Urgent Care or Minor Treatment Centers
  • 6. Make Sure ED Patients Have a Care Plan
  • 7. Offer a 24-hour Hotline Staffed by Nurses to Field Questions
  • Comments 

Readmissions Revolving DoorFor many hospitals, the emergency room is the busiest place for both staff and patients. Overcrowding, long wait times and inefficient care plague a lot of U.S. hospitals and there is a growing need for solutions. Not only is the overutilization costing money, but it is affecting patient satisfaction scores, meaning that hospitals aren’t meeting their annual measures.

Of course, there are times in the life of any emergency room, when it’s unavoidably busy: during summer months, hospitals that are in prime vacation areas need to plan for an influx of one-time patients. In the event of a disaster or outbreak of communicable illnesses in a community, utilization of emergency room services are certain to skyrocket. But what about in general, when physicians find that they are treating patients who, ultimately, do not need emergency services – meaning that patients who do are left in a lurch?

There are certainly steps you can take to reduce the over-utilization of emergency services at your hospital. Check the list below to see what you could do to improve your numbers.

More Read

Why Can’t Medical Care Work This Way
Infographic:Pre-Reform Impact of Self-Pay Patients on US Hospitals
Avoiding End of Life Transfers from Nursing Home to Hospital
Two Hospital PR Case Examples: One Bizarre, One Just Crazy
The Doctor-Patient Relationship of Today

1. Limit Opioid Prescriptions

Patients may be drug-seeking or, they may legitimately need the narcotics they are taking – but in either case, the emergency room is not the place to get this prescription refilled. Unless the need for narcotics is from an acute illness or injury, the emergency room should not be the “fast food” equivalent to the pharmacy.

2. Know the Primary Care Doctors In Your Community

Many patients who over-utilize or incorrectly utilize ED services do so because they lack a primary care doctor. You can combat this by knowing the PCPs in your community -and how to best refer patients to them. Keep an updated list at the nurse’s station.

3. Know What Patients Have Asked For Narcotics Before

Not only is this important from a legal perspective- so you can identify potential drug-seeking patients, but it will also help you see patterns in a patient’s usage. When a patient makes a request for opioids, make sure it is noted in the chart. Then, if they return a few weeks later, even if they see another doctor that physician will be alerted that they could be drug-seeking.

4. Know the Mental Health Resources in Your Community

Just like you would want to refer patients to a primary care doctor, patients who have ongoing struggles and needs due to mental illness need to be referred to the appropriate services. Of course, there are times when patients are utilizing the emergency room in emergent mental health situations, and at this time they would be referred to inpatient services.

5. Develop Urgent Care or Minor Treatment Centers

One of the best ways to reroute some of your emergency department traffic is by utilizing or creating an urgent care clinic or minor treatment area within your healthcare organization. These places are equipped to deal with minor injuries and illnesses that might divert attention away from more critical patients if they were left up to the ED staff.

6. Make Sure ED Patients Have a Care Plan

To avoid multiple ED visits or readmissions, make sure that when patients are discharged they have a follow-up plan and know who to call if they have questions about their treatment, any medications or what to do if they don’t get better. Many patients can be confused about when they should return to the ED -and when a call to their Primary Care Office would suffice.

7. Offer a 24-hour Hotline Staffed by Nurses to Field Questions

While this might not be feasible for all hospitals, if it can be managed, it will certainly help to guide people to the correct resources, eliminating high utilization of emergency department services.

Comments 

What other ways is your hospital trying to reduce readmissions and emergency department over-utilization? Let us know in the comments or tweet us your ideas!

TAGGED:ERreadmissions
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Abby Norman
My name is Abby Norman and I am a healthcare blogger. With over 10 years of experience in the medical field, I have developed a passion for helping others understand the complexities of healthcare.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Epidemiological Health Benefits
Personal and Epidemiological Health Benefits of Blood Pressure Management
Health
October 13, 2025
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries: What Families Need to Know
Policy & Law
October 10, 2025
Remote Monitoring touchpoints
Remote Monitoring Touchpoints Patients Will Actually Follow
Technology
October 9, 2025
dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025

You Might also Like

The Joint Commission TJC
BusinessHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

The Skinny on TJC Accreditation

September 13, 2014

(Some) Docs Launch War on Overutilization

February 19, 2012

Digitally Engaging the Elderly: Why & How You Should Target This Patient Demographic

April 14, 2015
Population Health Management
BusinessFinanceGlobal HealthcareHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

Secrets of Population Health Management [INFOGRAPHIC]

November 7, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?