High users of healthcare: Strategies to improve care, reduce costs

A minority of patients consume a disproportionate amount of healthcare, especially in the emergency department. These "high users" are a small but complex group whose expenses are driven largely by low socioeconomic status, mental illness, and drug abuse; lack of social services also contributes. Several promising efforts aimed at improving quality and reducing healthcare costs for high users include care management organizations, patient care plans, and better discharge summaries.