Randomized Control Trial of Emergency Department Discharge With Enhanced Transitions of Care Compared to Usual Care
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Patient Discharge
- Sponsor
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Enrollment
- 316
- Primary Endpoint
- Total number of ED visits, hospital admissions, and outpatient office visits as determined by medical record review and patient report
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 9 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This is a randomized controlled trial to assess the relative effectiveness of providing Enhanced Transitions of Care (ETOC) to improve patient outcomes after discharge from the Emergency Department (ED). Patients who are being discharged from the ED and have had a previous ED visit or hospital admission within the Thomas Jefferson Hospital System (TJUH or Methodist) within the past 90 days will be eligible for enrollment in this trial. Patients who consent to enrollment will be randomized to discharge by usual care or discharge with ETOC as provided by the company BoardRounds.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Adult (18 yrs and older) patients
- •Have had a previous ED visit or hospital admission in the 90 days prior to the current ED visit (at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital or Methodist Hospital)
- •Have just completed evaluation in the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Emergency Department for any problem,
- •Are ready for discharge from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital ED, and
- •Provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Non-English speaking patients
- •Patients undergoing medical clearance for a detox center or any involuntary court or magistrate order
- •Patients who live outside Philadelphia area (unable to seek follow-up care in Philadelphia) or other condition known to preclude follow-up (such as no reliable access to a telephone)
- •Patients in police custody or currently incarcerated individuals
- •Patients who have, in their clinician's best judgment, major communication barriers such as visual or hearing impairment or dementia that would compromise their ability to give written informed consent
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Total number of ED visits, hospital admissions, and outpatient office visits as determined by medical record review and patient report
Time Frame: 30 days
30-day healthcare utilization will be measured by assessing the total number of ED treat-and-release visits, hospital admissions, and outpatient care visits in the 30 days after study enrollment - will be reported in aggregate and separately for each type of utilization (ED, inpatient hospital stay, office visit). Counts will be determined by medical record review for visits occurring within the health system, and will be supplemented by patient report in a 30-day survey to determine utilization outside the health system.
Secondary Outcomes
- Total number of ED visits, hospital admissions, and outpatient office visits as determined by medical record review and patient report(9 days)
- Description of types of and count (per type) of assistance received by patients in accessing needed healthcare services as assessed by patient survey(9 days)
- Assessment of whether patient had unmet needs in accessing needed healthcare services, as determined by patient survey(9 days)