ED management : the monthly update on emergency department management
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It's hard to believe that something as simple as a 15-30 minute consultation can have an impact on chronic pain patients using the ED as their venue of choice for medical care; however, that's just what happened in the ED at Providence Newberg Medical Center in Newberg, OR. The average number of visits per patient per year dropped from 6.8 to 2.3 in just three years. ⋯ A series of letters went to patients after discharge to reinforce follow-up recommendations. Local primary care providers were enlisted to treat patients who had no "medical home."