title: Care management cuts ED use for pain.
abstract: A pain care management program at Kootenai Medical Center has resulted in a 77% decrease in emergency department visits by patients whose primary complaint was pain. Case managers are alerted when patients with a history of repetitive visits present to the emergency department. They work with the emergency department physicians on a treatment plan and help them identify a primary care physician and make an appointment for follow-up care. Patients receive non-narcotic pain relief whenever possible and may be referred to a physical therapist if appropriate.
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007061:Idaho; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010146:Pain; D014481:United States