American College of Emergency Physicians Recognizes Crouse Health’s Emergency Department for Improving Outcomes of Opioids, Sepsis and Chest Pain

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has recognized Crouse Health’s Pomeroy Emergency Services Department in its Emergency Quality Network (E-QUAL) Honor Roll for leading the way for how the nation cares for emergency services patients.

Just 192 emergency departments across the United States — out of 5,200 — were named to the 2019 E-QUAL Honor Roll, which is based on a learning collaborative that includes virtual quality improvement activities and sharing of clinical performance data.

Crouse, the only emergency department in upstate New York to be named to the 2019 honor roll, was recognized for improving outcomes for sepsis patients; reducing avoidable hospitalizations for patients with low-risk chest pain; and reducing opioid-associated harm through safer prescribing and the implementation of evidence-based interventions.

“This recognition reflects our team’s ongoing focus on improving clinical outcomes and the overall patient experience for our emergency services patients,” says David Mason, MD, medical director of emergency services for Crouse Health.  “It is gratifying to see the work we have done in the areas of sepsis, chest pain and opioid intervention receive national recognition.”

ACEP President William Jaquis, MD, FACEP, says, “Through collaboration and innovation, the emergency departments that participate in E-QUAL are transforming emergency medicine and advancing how we care for millions of people. The 2019 E-QUAL Honor Roll awardees are the shining example for how emergency departments can lead the way in practice transformation and quality improvements.”

E-QUAL learning collaboratives have resulted in more efficient and better care and improved clinical outcomes for U.S. patients, including 25,000 lives saved from improved sepsis care and a 35% decrease in opioids administered in the emergency department.

Last year, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) had awarded Pomeroy Emergency Services its Bronze Standard – Level 3 designation, which recognizes emergency departments in the U.S. that provide excellent care for older adults. The award is provided in partnership with the national Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program. Crouse is one of just 75 of the nation’s 6,000 hospitals to have earned this designation.

Crouse’s Pomeroy Emergency Services Department treated more than 63,000 patients in 2019. The hospital’s door-to-cardiac treatment times are among the lowest on the region and the organization is a New York State and DNV Healthcare-designated Comprehensive Stroke Center.