Calling Older Adults After ED Visits: Any Benefit?

A randomized, controlled trial found calls did not reduce 30-day rates of ED return visits, hospitalization, or death, but the study did not assess subjective outcomes.

As part of comprehensive patient experience programs, many hospitals call patients discharged from emergency departments (EDs) to follow up. In the era of population health management, these calls are intended to decrease return visits to the ED and facilitate follow-up with a specialist or primary care provider. However, it is unknown whether these follow-up programs truly decrease repeat ED utilization, especially in the vulnerable population of patients aged 65 or older. These researchers performed a randomized, controlled trial to determine the effect of follow-up calls on rates of return to the ED, hospitalization, or death within 30 days.

A total of 2000 patients aged 65 and older (60% women) who were being discharged from the ED over …

Reviewing Author

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Calling Older Adults After ED Visits: Any Benefit?

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Reviewing Author