Inappropriate Use of Emergency Departments

Inappropriate use of Emergency Departments effects the quality of care that nurses provide. A large majority of patients that are seen in the Emergency Department could have easily been treated in a primary care facility. When nurses have to take care of low-acuity patients in the Emergency Department there is less time for them to take care of high-acuity patients. This could then lead to poor patient outcomes. This is a nationwide problem, yet no hospitals have a policy that addresses this issue. The new policy will include what is considered a primary care treatable condition, how to care for this patient, and how to refer them at the time of discharge. Once the nurse has identified that the patient has presented with a primary care treatable condition he or she will then care for the patient and provide a pamphlet that will educate the patient on what conditions can be treated in a primary care setting and where to find these places. The primary care facilities that will be included in this pamphlet are urgent care clinics, primary care offices, and physician offices that are available within hospitals. The greatest benefit of this policy is that the overall health of high-acuity and low-acuity patients will be optimum.