title: Factors associated with failure to follow-up at a medical clinic after an ED visit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although emergency department (ED) discharge is often based on the presumption of continued care, the reported compliance rate with follow-up appointments is low.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study are to identify factors associated with missed follow-up appointments from the ED and to assess the ability of clinicians to predict which patients will follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients without insurance or an outpatient primary care provider (PCP) were given a follow-up clinic appointment before discharge. Information identifying potential follow-up barriers was collected, and the physician's perception of the likelihood of follow-up was recorded. Patients who missed their appointment were contacted via telephone and were offered a questionnaire and a rescheduled clinic appointment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 125 patients with no PCP were enrolled. Sixty (48%; 95% confidence interval, 39-57) kept their scheduled appointment. Sex, distance from clinic, availability of transportation, or time since last nonemergent physician visit was associated with attendance to the follow-up visit. Clinicians were unable to predict which patients would follow-up. Contact by telephone was made in 48 (74%) of patients who failed to follow-up. Of the 14 patients willing to reschedule, none returned for follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among ED patients who lack a PCP and are given a clinic appointment from the ED, less than half keep the appointment. Moreover, clinicians are unable to predict which patients will follow up. This study highlights the difficulty in maintaining continuity of care in populations who are self-pay or have Medicaid and lack regular providers. This may have implications on discharge planning from the ED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU Bellevue, New York, NY 10016, USA. sassan.naderi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sassan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Resul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalipi
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Houdek
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alagappan
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires