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Researchers assessed the feasibility of an interactive voice response system (IVRS; “robo-calling”) for identifying adverse safety outcomes after emergency department (ED) discharge. They compared adverse events in 487 consecutive high-acuity patients discharged from a tertiary care Canadian ED before the IVRS intervention and 481 such patients discharged after the intervention.
The intervention involved an IVRS programmed to call patients 2 days after ED discharge. Patients were asked two questions: (1) Are you having a health problem? (2) Do you want to speak to a nurse? Regardless of the response, a voice recording instructed patients to call their provider with any ongoing concerns. If the patient answered “yes” to question 2, an email w…