Coordinated care organizations in Oregon target frequent ER users

An experiment in Oregon focused on keeping frequent ER patients out of hospital emergency rooms has borne some results, Kaiser Health News reported. In one instance, Jeremie Seals, a 40-year-old with congestive heart failure, had his ER visits reduced from 15 visits in 2011 to four last year. The state's experimental coordinated care organizations not only provide frequent ER users such as Seals with better access to preventive care services, but also provide ancillary services, such as procuring him new shoes without holes, a new sleeping bag, and placing him in adult foster care. Article