Unplanned return presentations of older patients to the emergency department: a root cause analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In line with demographic changes, there is an increase in ED presentations and unplanned return presentations by older patients (≥70 years). It is important to know why these patients return to the ED shortly after their initial presentation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide insight into the root causes and potential preventability of unplanned return presentations (URP) to the ED within 30 days for older patients.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted from February 2018 to November 2018 in an academic hospital in Amsterdam. We included 83 patients, aged 70 years and older, with an URP to the ED within 30 days of the initial ED presentation. Patients, GPs and doctors at the ED were interviewed by trained interviewers and basic admi

SUBMITTER: Driesen BEJM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7510142 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature