78 Decreasing Emergency Department Utilization by Patients Followed by Pediatric Specialists

Specialist physicians have an important role in addressing ED utilization, especially at tertiary medical centers that treat highly specialized patients. We analyzed if reporting of ED utilization to pediatric specialist physicians can decrease ED visits. We analyzed if reporting of ED utilization rates of patients followed by pediatric specialists resulted in decreased ED use. Different pediatric specialist division received and discussed individualized ED use reports. Using control charts, we examined if our intervention decreased the rate of ED utilization. Pediatric neurology, hematology/oncology, infectious diseases and pulmonary received their ED use reports. Overall, for the four divisions specialty-related ED utilization decreased significantly during all hours, weekdays, and office hours. This was in the setting of ED utilization increasing for all diagnoses ED visits. Pediatric ED volume did not change during the study period. Physician-level reporting of ED utilization was associated with a reduction in ED use by patients followed by our pediatric specialists.