title: Emergency departments need aggressive management.
abstract: Medicare's prospective pricing system has fostered much cost-consciousness in hospitals regarding inpatient activities. But hospital managers must also examine other activities in search of opportunities to decrease expenses. Managers can minimize the large loss potential in emergency departments by developing detailed protocols and ensuring their consistent application through well-trained employees. This is particularly true for emergency departments having especially acute loss potential because of the volume of care provided to indigents.
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008489:Medical Indigency / Q000191:economics*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics*; D011050:Policy Making; D014481:United States