Implications of an Emergency Diversion Collaboration Effort

The overuse of emergency departments (EDs) presents a major burden to health care systems nationwide and individuals seeking services. Because health is a matter of both physical wellbeing and economics, it is important to consider how individuals access services and the costs associated with service use. This study examines an ED diversion collaboration implemented in Texas designed to divert lower acuity patients from EDs to more appropriate primary, urgent, dental, and in-home levels of care. Using secondary data, the study determined that approximately 29% (n = 388) of the 1,348 calls intercepted by the program were triaged to more appropriate levels of care, possibly resulting in significant cost avoidance for the hospital and collaborating partners. With over 25,000 emergency calls being made in the study area during the study period, increased diversion program resources could yield additional benefits for the community and individuals seeking care