Newswise — WASHINGTON (Oct. 7, 2014) — The emergency department is often at the center of some of the most important issues in health care reform. The costs and coordination of care, avoidable hospitalizations, misuse, and other issues have challenged hospitals to find ways to keep costs under control while continuing to ensure access, efficiency, and quality.

Jesse Pines, M.D., M.B.A., director of the Office of Clinical Practice Innovation and professor of emergency medicine and health policy at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, will speak to health care leaders at an Oct. 8 webinar about changes to the emergency department amid burgeoning health care reform.

Right-Sizing Your ED Amid Health Reform,” hosted by Schumacher Group and Modern Healthcare, will provide insights on how emergency department thought-leaders are preparing for what’s to come. Pines will be joined by panelists Randy Pilgrim, M.D., enterprise chief medical officer of Schumacher Group, and Brent Asplin, chief clinical officer of Mercy Health.

Today’s challenges create an imperative for change. Hospitals must respond to a rapidly evolving health care environment, where the typical approach may not only become obsolete, but may be unsafe. An accurate “diagnosis and treatment plan” is essential.

By attending this webinar, participants will learn:

- Current issues and future challenges for the emergency department- Facts, realities, and characteristics of the emergency department that provide unique opportunities- Innovative ways to use the emergency department to improve overall outcomes- Frameworks for assessing emergency department opportunities and readiness for change

Register for the complimentary session using this link: Modern Healthcare Webinar.

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About the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences:Founded in 1824, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was the first medical school in the nation’s capital and is the 11th oldest in the country. Working together in our nation’s capital, with integrity and resolve, the GW SMHS is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national and global communities. smhs.gwu.edu

About Schumacher Group:Caring for more than 4 million patients annually, Schumacher Group is one of the largest emergency medical staffing and management companies in the U.S., as well as a health care resource for Hospital Medicine, Wellness Programs, Care Management, and Billing & Coding. For more information, visit www.schumachergroup.com.