Sacramento Health Program Trims ED Visits, Expenses
The Sacramento-based community health program T3 has helped Sutter Medical Center Sacramento lower its emergency department patient visits by 65% and inpatient bed days by 37% and generate $2.3 million in cost savings, according to hospital data. T3 -- which stands for triage, transport and treatment -- was launched in 2007 through a partnership between Sutter and the Effort, a Sacramento community health clinic, to reduce pressure on the region's EDs by redirecting non-emergency patients to the Effort's clinics and community services. T3 has been expanded to Sutter Memorial Hospital, and last year the American Hospital Association recognized T3 as an innovative model program for other hospitals and clinics.
- "Clinic Helps Chronic ER Visitors Get Healthy" (Walker, HealthyCal, 8/23).