Kudos to MedStar (our Fort Worth EMS provider) for their excellent work on this project:
The Community Health Program was started in 2008 after MedStar officials discovered that 21 patients were using a big chunk of ambulance and emergency department resources. Those patients triggered more than 800 ambulance calls and cost the system more than $962,000 in charges, most of which were never collected because the patients lacked health insurance.
Nine of the 21 were selected for the program. They experienced a 77 percent reduction in their need for services during a 30-day test.
via In Fort Worth, MedStar’s Community Health Program cutting costs, improving patients’ well-being ….
I think this is a good idea. I would tend to agree that the super frequent fliers need help, just not transport to ED for treatment.
What the ultimate source of funding for that treatment will be an interesting problem. Also defining the sort of provider making the home visits and assessment. To my mind that falls under the traditional role of the RN. Though this demonstrates paramedic training can encompass the needed skills.
There was an article in the New Yorker (please don’t think that choice of reading habits reflects anything about my personality) by Gawande titled the “Hot Spotters” that outlines his efforts along this line in Camden, NJ. It’s worth the time to read if this subject interests you.