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Orthopaedic Urgent Care Versus the Emergency Department: Cost Implications for Low-energy Fracture Care.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pean, CA; Bird, ML; Buchalter, DB; Yang, SS; Egol, KA
Published in: J Am Acad Orthop Surg
February 1, 2022

INTRODUCTION: This study compared costs, length of visit, and utilization trends for patients with fractures seen in an immediate care orthopaedic center (I-Care) versus the emergency department (ED) in a major metropolitan area. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of consecutive patients seen on an outpatient basis in the ED and I-Care over a 6-month period was conducted. Patient demographics, procedures done, care category, estimated costs, and disposition information were included for statistical analysis. Within the low-acuity fracture care group, a cost-comparison analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 610 patients met inclusion criteria with 311 seen in I-Care and 299 in the ER. I-Care patients were more likely to have low-acuity injuries compared with ED patients (60.1% versus 18.1%, P < 0.001). The length of visit was longer for patients seen in the ED compared with I-Care (6.1 versus 1.43 hours, P value < 0.001). A cost analysis of low-acuity patients revealed that an estimated $62,150 USD could have been saved in healthcare costs by the initial diversion of low-acuity patients seen in the ER to I-Care during the study period. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that the I-Care orthopaedic urgent care model is a more cost-effective and more efficient alternative to the ED for patients with fractures requiring procedural treatment and low-acuity patients managed on an outpatient basis.

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Published In

J Am Acad Orthop Surg

DOI

EISSN

1940-5480

Publication Date

February 1, 2022

Volume

30

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e371 / e374

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Retrospective Studies
  • Orthopedics
  • Orthopedics
  • Humans
  • Fractures, Bone
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Ambulatory Care
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Pean, C. A., Bird, M. L., Buchalter, D. B., Yang, S. S., & Egol, K. A. (2022). Orthopaedic Urgent Care Versus the Emergency Department: Cost Implications for Low-energy Fracture Care. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, 30(3), e371–e374. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-21-00638
Pean, Christian A., Mackenzie L. Bird, Daniel B. Buchalter, S Steven Yang, and Kenneth A. Egol. “Orthopaedic Urgent Care Versus the Emergency Department: Cost Implications for Low-energy Fracture Care.J Am Acad Orthop Surg 30, no. 3 (February 1, 2022): e371–74. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-21-00638.
Pean CA, Bird ML, Buchalter DB, Yang SS, Egol KA. Orthopaedic Urgent Care Versus the Emergency Department: Cost Implications for Low-energy Fracture Care. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2022 Feb 1;30(3):e371–4.
Pean, Christian A., et al. “Orthopaedic Urgent Care Versus the Emergency Department: Cost Implications for Low-energy Fracture Care.J Am Acad Orthop Surg, vol. 30, no. 3, Feb. 2022, pp. e371–74. Pubmed, doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-21-00638.
Pean CA, Bird ML, Buchalter DB, Yang SS, Egol KA. Orthopaedic Urgent Care Versus the Emergency Department: Cost Implications for Low-energy Fracture Care. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2022 Feb 1;30(3):e371–e374.

Published In

J Am Acad Orthop Surg

DOI

EISSN

1940-5480

Publication Date

February 1, 2022

Volume

30

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e371 / e374

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Retrospective Studies
  • Orthopedics
  • Orthopedics
  • Humans
  • Fractures, Bone
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Ambulatory Care
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences