Patients at risk for failure to followup:
(1) A patient with a history of no-show behavior.
(2) A patient living alone and without social support.
(3) A patient with cognitive impairment.
(4) A patient with substance abuse.
(5) A patient unable to afford the followup visit.
(6) A patient who cannot be found or contacted after discharge.
(7) A patient who feels good enough after the ED visit.
(8) A patient who does not have a primary care provider.
Possible ways to improve followup of patients who come to the Emergency Department (ED):
(1) Make the followup appointment before the patient leaves the ED and provide written instructions.
(2) Make the followup visit free if possible.
(3) Have followup done someplace convenient for the patient, which may be ED.
(4) Stress the importance of the followup visit.
(5) Provide some sort of reminder after discharge.
(6) Followup should be with a physician that the patient has met.
In general it can be difficult to predict who will or who will not followup. It is important to be actively track the process to make sure that it gets done.
