title: A randomized study of electronic mail versus telephone follow-up after emergency department visit.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine whether electronic mail (e-mail) increases contact rates after patients are discharged from the emergency department (ED). Following discharge, patients were randomized to be contacted by telephone or e-mail. The main outcome was success of contact. Secondary outcome was the median time of response. There were 1561 patients initially screened. Of these, 444 had e-mail and were included in the study. Half were contacted by telephone and the rest via e-mail. Our telephone contact rate was 58% (129/222) after two calls in a 48-h period and our e-mail contact was 41% (90/222). The telephone was nearly two times better than e-mail. The median time of response was 48 h for e-mail and 18 h for telephone. It is concluded that the telephone is a better modality of contact than e-mail for patients discharged from the ED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
authors.forename: Ugo A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Ezenkwele
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Sites
authors.forename: Frances S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Shofer
authors.forename: Ellen N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Pritchett
authors.forename: Judd E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hollander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D013689:Telephone