An estimated 25-30% of total healthcare spend in the U.S. can be traced to inefficient patient throughput, delayed access to treatment, excess length of stay, preventable readmissions and over-utilization, and unaddressed social determinants of health (SDOH).i ii The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) prioritization of health equity is converging with the rise of value-based healthcare, prompting hospitals and healthcare systems to look for new ways to drive down inefficiencies.
How can hospitals stem the tide? The key is to better utilize the resources that are right in front of them. Collaboration with pre-hospital providers — namely, emergency medical services (EMS) — is a critical success factor for hospitals and healthcare systems. Yet, enabling EMS collaboration and data integration is often overlooked. Why does this blind spot persist?
Integrating and making EMS data available through the electronic medical record (EMR) system should be a major component of hospital IT strategy. Benefits of data integration (also known as data interoperability) include improving continuity of care, supporting medical decision making (MDM), and supporting operational and financial performance. Combined PCR and EMR data can enable:
- Better patient throughput and fewer barriers to discharge
- Using existing resources to deliver services more efficiently
- Quantifiable performance metrics required for accreditation and value-based care
Improve Bed Utilization, Care Transitions, and Discharge Planning
EMS partners can help hospitals and healthcare systems streamline treatment and discharge, use resources efficiently, and provide certain services to help reduce emergency department (ED) utilization and inpatient admissions.
For example, while EMS patients are in transport, the receiving facility can leverage EMS data to triage and pre-register patients, activate cardiac catheterization laboratories, and route patients appropriately upon arrival to enable faster access to treatment.
Similarly, integrating hospital patient logistics software and EMS scheduling software workflows can accelerate patient transfer to the most appropriate care setting, such as a specialized surgery center or a children’s hospital.
Finally, discharge planners can manage barriers to discharge and help prevent excess inpatient days by integrating hospital discharge planning software and EMS transport scheduling software. Using existing tools, planners reduce manual tasks and efficiently arrange timely discharge and transport.
Deliver Services Outside Inpatient Settings
EMS providers can serve many community healthcare needs without utilizing limited inpatient beds and increasing demands on hospital staff. They are already equipped to encounter and provide care to patients where they live, work, and play. Interventions like homeless outreach, support for aging in place, and routing “super utilizers” to the most appropriate setting all fit logically under EMS responsibilities.
Partnering with EMS providers to deliver services in the most appropriate settings also helps hospitals and healthcare systems meet accreditation and value-based care requirements, such as Joint Commission cardiac and stroke accreditation and AHA “Get with the Guidelines” programs.
Implement Interoperability Technology To Enable EMS Collaboration
Interoperability technology to make EMS data available through the EMR must be fully integrated into existing workflows to reduce disruption, streamline labor-intensive tasks, and improve staff efficiency. Smooth implementation depends on identifying a technology partner with deep expertise in hospital workflows and a strong track record of successful EMR integrations.
Hospital and healthcare system IT teams working to integrate EMS workflows can help ensure project success by:
- Identifying an executive sponsor with authority to drive hospital-wide change
- Dedicating interdisciplinary teams representing the hospital, EMS, specialist providers, and social services
- Establishing shared objectives and metrics between providers and across care settings
Collaboration with EMS is a critical success factor for hospitals and healthcare systems. Investing in workflow integration technology can help wring out inefficiencies and pave the way for meaningful progress against priority performance indicators, like patient throughput, barriers to discharge, and preventable readmissions. Organizations that implement technology like the ZOLL Care Exchange platform can boost operational and financial performance while optimizing resource utilization and enhancing continuity of care for their patients.
i William H. Shrank, MD, MSHS1; Teresa L. Rogstad, MPH1; Natasha Parekh, MD, MS2. “Waste in the US Health Care System Estimated Costs and Potential for Savings.” JAMA website, 2019;322(15):1501-1509. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.13978 www.jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2752664. Accessed 6 Feb. 2024
ii “IOM Report: Estimated $750B Wasted Annually In Health Care System.” KFF Health News website, www.kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/iom-report/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2024