title: Integrating emergency services in an urban health system.
abstract: When planning for growth and management efficiency across urban health systems, economic and market factors present significant service line challenges and opportunities. This article describes the evolutionary integration of emergency services in St John Health System, a large, religious-sponsored health care system located in Detroit, Michigan. Critical business elements, including the System's vision, mission, and economic context, are defined as the framework for site-specific and System-wide planning. The impact of managed care and market changes prompted St John's clinicians and executives to explore how integrating emergency services could create a competitive market advantage.
authors.affiliation: Patient Care Services, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48236, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Radloff
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Blouin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kripp
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016519:Hospitals, Religious / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D008824:Michigan; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*