It is crucial that policy makers, healthcare providers and relevant stakeholders understand how integrated care may be improved at our emergency departments (EDs) and what benefits that would bring. The potential that exists for right-siting care of special patient groups who could be managed in an ambulatory setting with the integration of a variety of hospital-based and community-based clinical support services is tremendous. This review describes the best practice and value of integrated care at the EDs. Local evidence is cited and compared with findings from overseas. The opportunities of care transition interventions among discharged patients are outlined, including that for paediatric patients, palliative care patients and patients with chronic diseases. This review also suggests ways to move forward to meet the aim of providing holistic care at EDs through integrated care programmes, innovation and research.
Humans ; Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration* ; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated ; Palliative Care ; Chronic Disease

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of aortitis is often delayed as symptoms are largely non-specific. We report a case of Staphylococcal thoracic aortitis in a 73-year-old Chinese woman complicated by aortic dissection. METHODS: The patient presented with pyrexia of unknown origin, and a contrast enhanced computed tomography aortogram revealed a large thrombus at the anterior aspect of the ascending aorta with two large ulcerations as a result of a chronic type A aortic dissection. A hemiarch replacement with a 28 mm Gleweave Vascutek graft was performed with resuspension of aortic valve commisures. Aortic thrombus cultures were positive for coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureaus, and histology showed chronic dissection of the aorta. RESULTS: The patient was treated with intravenous cefazolin for a 6-week duration and made good progress. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights Staphylococcal infective aortitis complicated by dissection presenting as fever of unknown origin. Timely diagnosis is essential as progression to catastrophic rupture may occur.