Yes, potentially, although both funding and human resource allocation for such a product would require significant planning and coordination.

10. Do you know of any physician champions to assist in this initiative?

To be determined.

Finally it is noteworthy to cite the principal summary findings of the recent RAND Health report on the role of emergency medicine:

“Our study indicates that (1) EDs have become an important source of admissions for American hospitals; (2) EDs are being used with increasing frequency to conduct complex diagnostic workups of patients with worrisome symptoms; (3) Despite recent efforts to strengthen primary care, the principal reason patients visit EDs for non-emergent outpatient care is lack of timely options elsewhere; and (4) EDs may be playing a constructive role in preventing some hospital admissions, particularly those involving patients with an ambulatory care sensitive condition. Policymakers, third party payers, and the public should be aware of the various ways EDs meet the health care needs of the communities they serve and support the efforts of ED providers to more effectively integrate ED operations into both inpatient and outpatient care.”

Dr. Stunz is Co-Chair of the PaACEP Emergency Medicine Practice and Medical Economics Committee.