Novel Use of Electronic Admission Notifications for Timely Care Management of Accountable Care Organization Clients in Emergency Departments

Summary Key points Hospital admissions increase the risk of delirium, falls, and accelerated cognitive and physical decline in older adults. Providing real‐time clinical and discharge support information to emergency room providers may reduce unnecessary hospitalizations. This pilot study demonstrated that electronic admission, discharge, and transfer notifications can be used to alert accountable care organization providers when patients enter the emergency room to provide timely care management. Why does this paper matter? This is the first pilot study to use electronic admission, discharge, and transfer notifications, coupled with a structured care management response, to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations in a community‐based accountable care organization. Case managers self‐reported a hospital diversion rate of 11%; a formal efficacy study is needed to validate these results.