OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of procedures for reducing ambulance diversion in the metropolitan area of Syracuse, New York. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of procedures for reducing ambulance diversion at the system-wide and hospital-specific levels between January 1, 2001, and June 30, 2002. System-wide procedures involved exchange of information concerning diversion. Hospital-specific procedures involved implementation of additional planning and criteria for implementing ambulance diversion and development of additional patient care resources within the respective hospitals. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2001, hours on ambulance diversion for the combined Syracuse hospitals declined by 24.8%. Between January and June 2001 and 2002, hours on diversion declined by 33.6%. These reductions in diversion hours occurred as numbers of ambulance transports increased by 7%, and numbers of emergency department visits increased by 5%. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that a combination of approaches can produce meaningful reductions of ambulance diversion at the community-wide and hospital-specific levels. It also demonstrated that substantial amounts of diversion time remained after these efforts, which must be addressed by payers and consumers.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of procedures for reducing ambulance diversion in the metropolitan area of Syracuse, New York. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of procedures for reducing ambulance diversion at the system-wide and hospital-specific levels between January 1, 2001, and June 30, 2002. System-wide procedures involved exchange of information concerning diversion. Hospital-specific procedures involved implementation of additional planning and criteria for implementing ambulance diversion and development of additional patient care resources within the respective hospitals. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2001, hours on ambulance diversion for the combined Syracuse hospitals declined by 24.8%. Between January and June 2001 and 2002, hours on diversion declined by 33.6%. These reductions in diversion hours occurred as numbers of ambulance transports increased by 7%, and numbers of emergency department visits increased by 5%. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that a combination of approaches can produce meaningful reductions of ambulance diversion at the community-wide and hospital-specific levels. It also demonstrated that substantial amounts of diversion time remained after these efforts, which must be addressed by payers and consumers.
Authors: Renee Yuen-Jan Hsia; Steven M Asch; Robert E Weiss; David Zingmond; Li-Jung Liang; Weijuan Han; Heather McCreath; Benjamin C Sun Journal: Health Aff (Millwood) Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 6.301