A case series using a care management checklist to decrease emergency department visits and hospitalizations in...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Healthcare Management
• Health Economics

Background:

• Epilepsy and seizures affect 1 million individuals annually, leading to frequent emergency department (ED) visits.
• High ED utilization among epilepsy patients contributes significantly to healthcare costs.
• Frequent ED visits and hospitalizations indicate a need for improved care management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a care management checklist in reducing ED visits and hospitalizations for epilepsy patients.
• To assess the impact of a care management checklist on associated healthcare costs.
• To determine the utility of a structured checklist in managing high-utilizing epilepsy patient populations.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective database search identified four epilepsy patients with the highest ED visit and/or hospitalization rates in 2011.
• A care management checklist was implemented for these patients in 2012.
• Data on office visits, ED visits, hospitalizations, and costs were collected and compared for 2011 and 2012.

Main Results:

• The four selected epilepsy patients had 46 ED visits and/or hospitalizations in 2011, costing $380,209.
• After implementing the care management checklist in 2012, these same patients had only 11 visits.
• The intervention resulted in a cost reduction of $188,130 within one year.

Conclusions:

• A care management checklist proved effective in decreasing ED visits and hospitalizations for a small cohort of epilepsy patients.
• The study demonstrates a significant reduction in healthcare expenditures through structured care management.
• Further research with larger patient numbers is warranted to confirm these findings.