Interventions to decrease emergency department visits by adult frequent users
Citation: Moe J, Kirkland SW, Rawe E, et al. Effectiveness of interventions to decrease emergency department visits by adult frequent users: a systematic review. Academic Emergency Medicine 2017; 24(1): 40-52
What is this? The COVID-19 pandemic is placing a strain on healthcare systems. Existing research into ways to reduce frequent visits to the emergency department (ED) might provide information to ease this.
In this systematic review, the authors searched for research evaluating the effects of interventions intended to reduce the frequency of ED visits by adult frequent ED users. They did not restrict by date, type or language of publication and did their search in October 2014. They included 21 non-controlled before–after studies, 6 randomized trials and 4 controlled before–after studies.
What works: Case management decreased the frequency of ED visits by adult frequent ED users.
Care plans decreased the frequency of ED visits by adult frequent ED users.
Diverting patients to non-urgent care decreased the frequency of ED visits by adult frequent ED users.
Printout case notes decreased the frequency of ED visits by adult frequent ED users.
Social work home visits decreased the frequency of ED visits by adult frequent ED users.
What doesn’t work: Nothing noted.
What’s uncertain: Nothing noted.