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SCOPE Reducing ER Visits

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Niagara Health says the program connects patients to specialists, helping doctors

An impressive number of patients have been diverted away from Niagara emergency rooms thanks to a program called SCOPE.

Manager of Clinical Services at Niagara Health Tanja Groeneveld tells us it has reduced ER visits by 96%, by connecting doctors with specialists in a quicker fashion, when a doctor is not able to help a patient further.

She says Seamless Care Optimizing the Patient Experience started in Niagara 4-years ago.  "We've had a patient that moved here from Toronto, and we were able to connect with the SCOPE hub in Toronto, and still be able to assist the patient just outside the emergency department."

She says the program started with 30 providers, now it's 250 clinicians in Niagara.

"We have internal medicine, we have mental health and addictions, we have pediatrics diagnostics imaging, we have palliative care, and home and community care.  Our 2 nurse navigators are Rachel and Sarah, and they do a fantastic job."

 

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