Emergency department patient navigator program in reducing ED return visits and improving outpatient follow-up adherence

Author(s):  
Lynn G. Jiang ◽  
Yiye Zhang ◽  
Erina Greca ◽  
David Bodnar ◽  
Kriti Gogia ◽  
...  
CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S109
Author(s):  
F. Milne ◽  
K. Leech-Porter ◽  
D. Lewis ◽  
J. Fraser ◽  
S. Hull ◽  
...  

Introduction: The positive health outcomes of exercise have been well-studied, and exercise prescription has been shown to reduce morbidity in several chronic health conditions. However, patient attitudes around the prescription of exercise in the emergency department (ED) have not been explored. The aim of our pilot study is to explore patients’ willingness and perceptions of exercise being discussed and prescribed in the ED. Methods: This study is a survey of patients who had been previously selected for exercise prescription in a pilot study conducted at a tertiary care ED. This intervention group were given a standardized provincial written prescription to perform moderate exercise for 150 minutes per week. Participants answered a discharge questionnaire and were followed up by a telephone interview 2 months later. A structured interview of opinions around exercise prescription was conducted. Questions included a combination of non-closed style interview questions and Likert scale. Patients rated prescription detail, helpfulness and likelihood on a Likert scale from 1-5 (1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree). Median values (+/-IQRs) are presented, along with dominant themes. Results: 17 people consented to exercise prescription and follow up surveys. 2 were excluded due to hospital admission. 15 participants were enrolled and completed the discharge survey. Two-month follow up survey response rate was 80%. Patients rated the detail given in their prescription as 5 (+/-1). Helpfulness of prescription was rated as 4 (+/-2). Likelihood to continue exercising based on the prescription was rated as 4 (+/-2). 11/12 participants felt that exercise should be discussed in the Emergency Department either routinely or on a case-by-case basis.1 participant felt it should not be discussed at all. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that most patients are open to exercise being discussed during their Emergency Department visit, and that the prescription format was well-received by study participants.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 613-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran D. Goldman ◽  
Julia J. Wei ◽  
John Cheyne ◽  
Blake Jamieson ◽  
Bat Chen Friedman ◽  
...  

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Ester Marquez-Algaba ◽  
Marc Sanchez ◽  
Maria Baladas ◽  
Claudia España ◽  
Hermes Salvatore Dallo ◽  
...  

Introduction: In the midst of a pandemic, apps can be used to provide close follow-up, ensure that patients are monitored at home, avoid excessive pressure on medical facilities, prevent the movement of people (both patients and health professionals), and reduce the risk of infection. Objective: To adapt and validate the use of a smartphone application for outpatient follow-up of COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge. Methods: We conducted an open-label clinical trial at Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to be followed by the Farmalarm app or by their primary care center. The primary endpoint was the reduction in the need for in-person return visits. Results: From 31 March to 4 May 2020, 150 patients were enrolled in the study at hospital discharge: 74 patients were randomized to the experimental group, and 76 to the control group. All patients in the control group and all except for six in the experimental group completed the study. During hospitalization, before study inclusion, all but 4 (97.3%) had viral pneumonia, 91 (60.7%) required supplemental oxygen, and 16 (10.7%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. COVID-19–related return visits to the emergency department were significantly higher in the control group (7.9% vs. 0%; p = 0.028) in the per-protocol analysis. Telephone consultations with the emergency department were performed by 12 (15.8%) patients in the control group and 0 (0%) in the experimental group (p < 0.001). Satisfaction with outpatient monitoring was rated higher by the experimental group (5 vs. 4 points; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Following COVID-19 hospital discharge, home follow-up via a mobile app was effective in reducing in-person return visits without undermining patient satisfaction or perception of health, compared with standard follow-up.


CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S83
Author(s):  
D. Giffin ◽  
K. Van Aarsen ◽  
M. Brine ◽  
K. Church ◽  
M. Fotheringham ◽  
...  

Introduction: Depending on the time and day of initial Emergency Department (ED) presentation, some patients may require a return to the ED the following day for ultrasound examination. Return visits for ultrasound may be time and resource intensive for both patients and the ED. Qualitative experience suggests that a percentage of return ultrasounds could be performed at a non-ED facility. Our objective was to undertake a retrospective audit of return for ultrasound usage, patterns and outcomes at 2 academic EDs. Methods: A retrospective review of all adult patients returning to the ED for ultrasound at both LHSC ED sites in 2016 was undertaken. Each chart was independently reviewed by two emergency medicine consultants. Charts were assessed for day and time of initial presentation and return, type of ultrasound ordered, and length of ED stay on initial presentation and return visit. Opinion based questions were considered by reviewers, including urgency of diagnosis clarification required, if symptoms were still present on return, and if any medical or surgical treatment or follow up was arranged based on ultrasound results. Agreement between reviewers was assessed. Results: After eliminating charts for which the return visit was not for a scheduled ultrasound examination, 328 patient charts were reviewed. 63% of patients were female and median [IQR] age was 40 years [27-56]. Abdomen/pelvis represented 50% of the ultrasounds; renal 24%; venous Doppler 15.9%. Symptoms were still present and documented in 79% of cases. 22% of cases required a medical intervention and 9% an immediate surgical intervention. 11% of patients were admitted to hospital on their return visit. Outpatient follow-up based on US results was initiated in 29% of cases. Median [IQR] combined LOS was 479.5 minutes [358.5-621.75]. Agreement between reviewers for opinion based questions was poor (63%-96%). Conclusion: Ideally, formal ultrasound should be available on a 24 hour basis for ED patients in order to avoid return visits. A percentage of return for ultrasound examinations do not result in any significant change in treatment. Emergency departments should consider the development of pathways to avoid return visits for follow up ultrasound when possible. The low incidence of surgical treatment in those returning for US suggests that this population could be served in a non-hospital setting. Further research is required to support this conclusion.


CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S46
Author(s):  
M. MacInnis ◽  
K. MacMillan ◽  
E. Fitzpatrick ◽  
K. Hurley ◽  
S. MacPhee ◽  
...  

Introduction: We implemented a pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) service for patients discharged from the pediatric emergency department (PED). This service, supported by a collaborative practice agreement, allows pharmacists to follow up with patients and independently stop, start, or adjust antimicrobial agents based on culture results. The primary objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of this service on the rate of return visits to the PED within 96 hours. The secondary objective was to evaluate the appropriateness of the prescribed antimicrobial agent at follow up. Methods: This study was completed as a retrospective chart review 6 months pre-implementation (January 1st, 2016 to June 31st, 2016) and 6 months post-implementation (February 1st, 2017 to July 31st, 2017) of a pharmacist-led AMS service. A research assistant extracted data from electronic medical records using a standardized data collection form. All patients discharged from the PED with a suspected infection whose cultures fell within the parameters of the collaborative practice agreement were included in this study. Data were reported descriptively and compared using a two-sided chi-square test. Results: This study included 1070 patient encounters pre-implementation and 1040 patient encounters post-implementation of the AMS service. The most commonly reviewed culture was urine (38% pre-implementation and 41% post-implementation). The rate of return visits to the PED within 96 hours was 12.0% (129/1070) pre-implementation vs 10.0% (100/1049) post-implementation phase (p = 0.07). A significantly higher percentage of inappropriate antimicrobial therapy was identified at the time of follow up in the pre-implementation phase (7.0%, 68/975) compared to the post-implementation phase (5.0%, 46/952), p = 0.047. Conclusion: Although this pharmacist-led AMS service did not affect the rate of return visits within 96 hours, it may have led to more judicious use of antimicrobial agents.


Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 457
Author(s):  
Soh ◽  
Lin ◽  
Pan ◽  
Ho ◽  
Mahadevan ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: This study aims to identify reasons for unscheduled return visits (URVs), and risk factors for diagnostic errors leading to URVs, with comparisons to data from a similar study conducted in the same institution 9 years ago. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients who attended the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary hospital in Singapore between January 2014 and June 2014, with re-attendance within 72 h for the same or similar complaint. The primary outcome was wrong or delayed diagnoses. Secondary outcomes include admission to the ED observation unit or ward on return visit. Findings were compared with the previous study performed in 2005 to identify trends. Results: Of 67,422 attendances, there were 1298 (1.93%) URVs from 1207 patients (median age 34, interquartile range 24 to 52 years; 59.7% male). The most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain (22.2%). One hundred ninety-one (15.8%) patients received an initial wrong or delayed diagnosis. Factors (adjusted odds ratio; 95% CI) associated with this were: presenting complaints of abdominal pain (2.99; 2.12–4.23), fever (1.60; 1.1–2.33), neurological deficit (4.26; 1.94–9.35), and discharge without follow-up (1.61; 1.1–2.26). Among re-attendances, 459 (38.0%) required admission. Factors (adjusted odds ratio; 95% CI) associated with admission were: male gender (1.88; 1.42 to 2.48); comorbidities of diabetes mellitus (2.07; 1.29–3.31), asthma (5.23; 1.59–17.26), and renal disease (7.48; 2.00–28.05); presenting complaints of abdominal pain (1.83; 1.32–2.55), fever (3.05; 2.10–4.44), and giddiness or vertigo (2.17; 1.26–3.73). There was a reduction in URV rate compared to the previous study in 2005 (1.93% versus 2.19%). Abdominal pain at the index visit remains a significant cause of URVs (22.2% versus 25.1%). Conclusions: Presenting complaints of neurological deficits, abdominal pain, fever, and discharge without follow-up were associated with wrong or delayed diagnoses among URVs.


Crisis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 406-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raimondo Maria Pavarin ◽  
Angelo Fioritti ◽  
Francesca Fontana ◽  
Silvia Marani ◽  
Alessandra Paparelli ◽  
...  

Background: The international literature reports that for every completed suicide there are between 8 and 22 visits to an Emergency Department (ED) for attempted suicide/suicidal behavior. Aims: To describe the characteristics of admission to emergency departments (EDs) for suicide-related presenting complaints in the metropolitan area of Bologna; to estimate the risk for all-cause mortality and for suicide; to identify the profiles of subjects most at risk. Method: Follow-up of patients admitted to the EDs of the metropolitan area of Bologna between January 2004 and December 2010 for attempted suicide. A Cox model was used to evaluate the association between sociodemographic variables and the general mortality risk. Results: We identified 505 cases of attempted suicide, which were more frequent for female subjects, over the weekend, and at night (8:00 p.m./8:00 a.m.). The most used suicide methods were psychotropic drugs, sharp or blunt objects, and jumping from high places. In this cohort, 3.6% of subjects completed suicide (4.5% of males vs. 2.9% of females), 2.3% within 1 year of the start of follow-up. The most common causes of death were drug use and hanging. In the multivariate analysis, those who used illicit drugs 24 hr prior to admission to the ED (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.23–9.73) and patients who refused the treatment (HR = 6.74, 95% CI = 1.86–24.40) showed an increased mortality risk for suicide. Conclusion: Deliberate self-harm patients presenting to the ED who refuse treatment represent a specific target group for setting up dedicated prevention schemes.


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