Follow up with patients by telephone.
Giving patients a follow-up telephone call can improve satisfaction, improve outcomes, and even save lives. Patients who left the ED without being seen can be encouraged to return if the problem has persisted or worsened. The nurse who makes the follow-up calls should be trained in giving advice over the telephone and be a good listener. Patients react positively to receiving follow-up calls.
D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005431:Florida; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome