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Emergency room visits cost employers thousands of dollars, and many visits are simply unnecessary. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the general rule of thumb when experiencing pain or unexpected sickness dictated an immediate visit to the emergency room. But data shows that this practice is costly and, ultimately not in the best interest of the patient. Many problems, from the flu to stitches to broken bones can be treated at an urgent care facility. With ER visits becoming one of the most expensive items covered under employer benefit packages, a shift to using urgent care over a trip to the ER can mean shorter wait times and greater accessibility for patients, and a savings of thousands of dollars for employers.
It is no secret to employers that the cost of healthcare is soaring, and many are looking for strategic ways to lower those costs for their employees. Forward-thinking employers and advisors have recognized the need for close analysis of employee healthcare data in order to identify trends that indicate where savings can be found. One of the most obvious savings opportunities uncovered is often to reduce the use of the emergency department.
With 18 out of the 27 million annual emergency department visits identified as avoidable, the costs can add up quickly. Data shows that avoidable visits are largely coming from privately insured individuals, most of whom enjoy health benefits through their employer. If these employees chose to go to an urgent care center instead of the ER, it could save upwards of $32 million a year in healthcare costs.
The key for employers is to intelligently use employee health data to mine for trends in site of care utilization, providing opportunities for savings. Innovu, a business leader in healthcare analytics, specializes in the data deep dive, consistently identifying strategies for saving OpEx dollars that are crucial to employers across the nation, especially as businesses recover and work to reopen in the wake of COVID-19.
A visit to the ER is typically more expensive due to associated hospital fees and lab services, which can cost up to 10 times more than at the average urgent care center. Procedures, tests, and exams done in the emergency department cost far more than identical services done in a primary or urgent care setting. The average cost of treating very common conditions in the emergency department can run around $2,032. The cost of treating those exact conditions in an urgent care center runs far less, at $193.
Because the cost of emergency care can be so high, many employers and advisors are exploring innovative ways to drive down emergency room visits. From data mining and tech solutions to employee education, there are a variety of ways in which employers and health benefits professionals can assist in reducing avoidable emergency department visits while dramatically lowering healthcare costs.
Employers should consider investing in education for employees and ensuring the availability of literature with clear advice regarding when to call their physician, when to visit an urgent care facility, and when to go to the emergency room. By definitively indicating the differences between each of the three alternatives, employees are better informed and can better make appropriate care decisions.
One of the best ways to decrease avoidable emergency department visits is to encourage employee use of telehealth services. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant uptick in the utilization of telehealth and telemedicine for issues ranging from mental health to the common cold and dermatological issues. This increased usage has resulted in superior services and more robust telehealth visits than those available prior to the onset of the coronavirus.
Innovu is the best in class solution for employers and advisors looking to understand the true cost of emergency room visits. Their close examination of employee health data can help employers understand where they are overspending on ER visits for conditions that could be more effectively managed elsewhere. The Innovu analytics and engagement model identifies these hidden cost drivers and works closely with employers to implement robust solutions for overall reductions in spending.
Emergency room visits are costing the healthcare industry an enormous amount of waste, the good news is that most of this waste is avoidable. By taking the critical steps; analyzing data, enacting employee education campaigns, and identifying trends in usage, employers can dramatically reduce unneeded visits and save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. At a time when every dollar counts, it is essential to find these vital savings opportunities wherever possible. For more information on the ways Innovu can help to identify ER vs Urgent care trends and for actionable solutions and savings, visit www.innovu.com or email info@innovu.com.
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