This article is for primary care providers and office staff
Patients with chronic conditions like COPD, diabetes, or behavioral health diagnoses often face multiple challenges and may feel overwhelmed after an emergency department (ED) visit. Additional support from their PCP can help them understand the outcome of the visit, follow their treatment plan, and manage emergencies in the future. Medicare Advantage members may also face difficulty with the coordination and communication necessary after a visit to the emergency room.
Best practices to help your patients
We know that primary care clinicians may have limited capacity as their patient population grows. Expand capacity with nurse practitioners and physician assistants to manage patient load and increase access.
Be sure to introduce care teams to patients so they’re aware of available care options to streamline appointment scheduling.
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Reserve appointment slots: Ensure patients are seen within 2-5 days post-discharge. |
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Immediate contact: Schedule follow-ups as soon as discharge notification is received, or set an alert in your admission, discharge, transfer system to know which of your patients has been in an emergency room. |
| Telehealth options: Offer telehealth appointments for convenience. | |
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Discharge discussions: Review the discharge summary with patients, ensuring they understand instructions and prescriptions. |
Coordinate care: Make sure your patients know where to go for routine and urgent care
Encourage regular check-ups with primary care teams and develop care plans that align with patient needs to manage chronic diseases effectively. When your patients know where to go, you may be able to prevent future emergency visits. Remind them that even with the best planning, emergencies can happen—and to always follow up with you right away afterward.
As always, thank you for your dedication to patient care.
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