Has your patient had an ED visit?

Aim for follow-up within seven days

The CDC reported that, in 2018, 27% of the U.S. population were living with at least two chronic conditions. Given the increased vulnerability of people living with multiple chronic conditions, it is imperative that these patients have timely follow-up—ideally within a week—after an Emergency Department (ED) visit.

ED follow-ups don’t always have to be in person to be effective—your patient’s medical history and ED diagnoses can help you determine if a telehealth visit or phone call should suffice. The goal of the ED follow-up visit is to:

• Ensure the patient clearly understands their diagnosis and discharge instructions
• Ensure the discharge instructions do not conflict with other elements of the patient’s care plan
• Ensure the member has all necessary equipment, prescribed medications, and care coordinated with specialist referrals, testing, etc.

These follow-up visits also offer an excellent opportunity to gain an understanding of why the patient utilized the ED. This could help identify challenges with access or opportunities to educate the patient on what level of health care need is ED-appropriate (versus seeking urgent care or primary care) and what steps to take in the future.

Source: CDC – Chronic Conditions Report