Integrated care may cut ER visits and hospital stays for adults with developmental disabilities

Article excerpt

Adults with developmental disabilities who receive integrated care visit the emergency room less often and spend fewer days hospitalized than those without such coordination, according to research from University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University. The findings suggest that combining medical and support services for this population, rather than treating health issues in isolation, produces measurable health improvements. The study adds to growing evidence that integrated care models, long standard in some regions, could significantly reduce costly ER visits and inpatient stays. The research examined outcomes across multiple health systems, tracking how comprehensive care coordination affected utilization patterns among adults with developmental disabilities.