Assuring community emergency care capacity with collaborative Internet tools: the Milwaukee experience

• Published in: Journal of public health management and practice Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 35
• Main Authors: Barthell, Edward N, Foldy, Seth L, Pemble, Kim R, Felton, Christopher W, Greischar, Patrick J, Pirrallo, Ronald G, Bazan, William J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2003
• Subjects: Ambulances - utilization; Community Health Services - organization & administration; Community Health Services - utilization; Cooperative Behavior; Emergency Medical Services - organization & administration; Emergency Medical Services - utilization; Emergency Service, Hospital - organization & administration; Emergency Service, Hospital - utilization; Humans; Interinstitutional Relations; Internet; Local Government; Patient Transfer - organization & administration; Patient Transfer - utilization; Public Health Administration; Public Health Informatics; Wisconsin; Wisconsin
• ISSN: 1078-4659; 1550-5022
• DOI: 10.1097/00124784-200301000-00005

Hospital overcrowding and diversion of ambulances from emergency departments are being recognized as increasing problems in the health care system. This article, a descriptive narrative, examines the various factors contributing to the problem and describes how collaborative approaches to public health issues can be applied. It describes Milwaukee's experience with a collaborative approach. The use of a technological tool to assist with tracking and reporting on ambulance diversion and emergency department overload is explained, and data are provided to show the impact of various methods to blunt the impact of the flu season on diversion frequency. The article encourages use of similar collaborative approaches and Internet-based technology to address other public health problems.