What's Happening in Hartford, CT…

A non-profit organization called Community Solutions has paired with Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center to see what can be done to reduce ER visits by the area's citizens.

North Hartford is home to many of the city's poorest residents, and their income level can have an impact on their medical care. Low-income people often have no insurance, no primary care physicians, and no knowledge of alternatives, such as urgent care. Instead, they rely on the emergency department for care. Saint Francis and Community Solutions wanted to find out who used the emergency services most, why, and if there was a better way to help them manage their health.

Saint Francis examined their emergency department records and found that the problem was less that people used the ED, and more that certain people over-used it. They were not concerned with people who went to the ED once a year, but those who came 20 times or more. They identified those people, picked 12 as a pilot program, and assigned case managers to them. The case managers helped them understand their situation, seek the appropriate care, and also follow up on medication and doctor's instructions. In nine months, the dozen participants in the pilot program reduced their ED visits by 50%.

Saint Francis could work with brochure printers to create a booklet for other hospitals, describing the program and its results.