Comparative study of case management program for patients with syncope.

Syncope is defined as the transient loss of consciousness. It is a somewhat unique diagnosis in that it is typically a symptom with an underlying etiology. Increased length of stay, extensive testing, and specialty referrals contribute to high treatment costs. This is the first reported study to show how a multidisciplinary case management model was utilized to enhance care for patients admitted with syncope. Quality of care was improved through the development of patient education materials and the modification of clinical policy. This effort also resulted in a reduced length of stay with a corresponding cost savings.