If you or a loved one gets sick or injured, do you know the right place to go for care? Would your family and friends know how and when to choose between virtual care, a clinic visit, urgent care and the emergency room (ER)? One of WSHA’s major quality and safety initiatives is ER is for Emergencies, which works to help people seek care at the right location. This campaign is especially relevant during flu season, when emergency departments across our state become inundated with sick patients.
To help patients make the right decision for their health and finances, WSHA developed a short video that is available for you to share. (It’s also available with captions, in Spanish and in Spanish with captions.) The most important message to take away is that the ER should be reserved for serious or life-threatening emergencies.
The ER is for Emergencies campaign is in its sixth year, operated in partnership with the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. So far, the campaign has shown promising success in reducing ER overuse.
We hope you find the video helpful, and that you consider helping us spread the word to ensure those in your community best choose their options for care.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Graves
WSHA Senior VP for Patient Safety & Quality Operations
jenniferg@wsha.org
