Returns After Discharge From the Emergency Department Observation Unit: Who, What, When, and Why?

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The number of emergency department observation units (EDOU) and observation stays has continued to increase. Despite this, there is limited data on the characteristics of patients who return unexpectedly to the ED after EDOU discharge.

Methods

We identified the charts of all patients who were admitted to the EDOU of an academic medical center between January 2018-June 2020 and had a return to the ED within 14 days of discharge from the EDOU. Patients were excluded if they were admitted to the hospital from the EDOU, left against medical advice, or died in the EDOU. We manually extracted selected demographic factors, comorbidities, and healthcare utilization data from the charts. Physician reviewers identified return visits thought to be related to the index visi

SUBMITTER: Berger D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10284506 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature