Improving Follow-Up for Discharged Emergency Care Patients
NCT ID: NCT03002311
Last Updated: 2020-11-24
Study Results
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View full resultsBasic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
327 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2016-01-01
2018-03-09
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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An electronic intervention platform has been developed by Epharmix (now HealthSignal), uses SMS text messaging for adherence tracking and data collection applications, to supplement clinical care. Specific messages include: proactively asking patients or a designated patient advocate if the patient has experienced a medical event; requesting specific care-related information; and providing health care education. Patients receiving the messages are also provided with key contact information for their designated health care provider to promote patient engagement, as well as prompt and appropriate medical follow-up care. The service will maintain both a dedicated SMS and phone line for recording events or adverse reactions. Events designated as critical prompt a phone call from nursing staff. Overall, this study aims to determine whether an electronic intervention system that sends SMS text messages will improve adherence to follow-up appointments after an ED visit.
Patients age 18 years or older at Barnes Jewish Hospital are included in this study. We conducted a prospective randomized open, blinded end-point (PROBE) trial of 278 adult patients discharged from the ED and referred to a provider for follow-up care. Participants in the intervention arm received a self-scheduling text or phone message using the Epharmix (now HealthSignal) platform that connected them to their referral provider to schedule a follow-up appointment and sent them appointment reminders. Those in the control arm received standard-of-care written instructions to contact listed referral providers. The primary outcome was time to appointment. The secondary outcome was time to return visit to the ED.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
NONE
Study Groups
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Control
Receiving current standard of care as designated by emergency department (ED) standard operating practice.
No interventions assigned to this group
Epharmix/CareSignal eHealth Intervention
After randomization, participants receive text reminders to have a follow-up visit. The participant can respond to these messages via numerical or binary answers (Y/N).
Epharmix/CareSignal eHealth
The self-scheduling text and phone messaging system was built by Epharmix/CareSignal. Participants in the intervention group began receiving text or voice messages (for landlines) starting 1 hour following ED discharge if during normal business hours, or at 1000 the next business morning. Automated messages were sent up to 3 days in a row or until the participant responded or opted out. The phone system would ultimately connect them directly to their referral provider or clinic to schedule an appointment. Once participants hung up with the referral clinic, the intervention texted or called back to solicit the appointment date. If a date was entered, the system sent reminders at 14 days, 7 days, 3 days, and 1 day before the appointment. After the appointment, the intervention texted or called participants to confirm if they attended.
Interventions
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Epharmix/CareSignal eHealth
The self-scheduling text and phone messaging system was built by Epharmix/CareSignal. Participants in the intervention group began receiving text or voice messages (for landlines) starting 1 hour following ED discharge if during normal business hours, or at 1000 the next business morning. Automated messages were sent up to 3 days in a row or until the participant responded or opted out. The phone system would ultimately connect them directly to their referral provider or clinic to schedule an appointment. Once participants hung up with the referral clinic, the intervention texted or called back to solicit the appointment date. If a date was entered, the system sent reminders at 14 days, 7 days, 3 days, and 1 day before the appointment. After the appointment, the intervention texted or called participants to confirm if they attended.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
2. accessible short message service (SMS) capable mobile phone or residential landline,
3. able to read English or have English-speaking family member to assist with phone communications,
4. discharged directly from the Barnes Jewish hospital (St. Louis, MO) emergency department (ED), and
5. given a clinical referral to make an outpatient follow-up appointment at time of discharge to a specific clinic or provider
Exclusion Criteria
2. could not be contacted by a phone call or SMS,
3. non-English speaking,
4. were admitted to the hospital, and
5. already had a follow-up appointment scheduled before being discharged from the ED
5 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Epharmix, Inc.
INDUSTRY
Washington University School of Medicine
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Will R Ross, MD, MPH
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Washington University School of Medicine
Locations
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Barnes Jewish Hospital
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Countries
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References
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Cummings KM, Becker MH, Kirscht JP, Levin NW. Intervention strategies to improve compliance with medical regimens by ambulatory hemodialysis patients. J Behav Med. 1981 Mar;4(1):111-27. doi: 10.1007/BF00844851.
Parikh A, Gupta K, Wilson AC, Fields K, Cosgrove NM, Kostis JB. The effectiveness of outpatient appointment reminder systems in reducing no-show rates. Am J Med. 2010 Jun;123(6):542-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.11.022.
Junod Perron N, Dao MD, Righini NC, Humair JP, Broers B, Narring F, Haller DM, Gaspoz JM. Text-messaging versus telephone reminders to reduce missed appointments in an academic primary care clinic: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 Apr 4;13:125. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-125.
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Lua PL, Neni WS. Health-related quality of life improvement via telemedicine for epilepsy: printed versus SMS-based education intervention. Qual Life Res. 2013 Oct;22(8):2123-32. doi: 10.1007/s11136-013-0352-6. Epub 2013 Jan 18.
Dall TM, Storm MV, Chakrabarti R, Drogan O, Keran CM, Donofrio PD, Henderson VW, Kaminski HJ, Stevens JC, Vidic TR. Supply and demand analysis of the current and future US neurology workforce. Neurology. 2013 Jul 30;81(5):470-8. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318294b1cf. Epub 2013 Apr 17.
Lieberman DZ, Kelly TF, Douglas L, Goodwin FK. A randomized comparison of online and paper mood charts for people with bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord. 2010 Jul;124(1-2):85-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.10.019. Epub 2009 Nov 6.
Sawan M, Salam MT, Le Lan J, Kassab A, Gelinas S, Vannasing P, Lesage F, Lassonde M, Nguyen DK. Wireless recording systems: from noninvasive EEG-NIRS to invasive EEG devices. IEEE Trans Biomed Circuits Syst. 2013 Apr;7(2):186-95. doi: 10.1109/TBCAS.2013.2255595.
Chaudhry SI, Mattera JA, Curtis JP, Spertus JA, Herrin J, Lin Z, Phillips CO, Hodshon BV, Cooper LS, Krumholz HM. Telemonitoring in patients with heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2010 Dec 9;363(24):2301-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1010029. Epub 2010 Nov 16.
Bauer KL, Sogade OO, Gage BF, Ruoff B, Lewis L. Improving Follow-up Attendance for Discharged Emergency Care Patients Using Automated Phone System to Self-schedule: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Feb;28(2):197-205. doi: 10.1111/acem.14080. Epub 2020 Aug 5.
Chen RY, Feltes JR, Tzeng WS, Lu ZY, Pan M, Zhao N, Talkin R, Javaherian K, Glowinski A, Ross W. Phone-Based Interventions in Adolescent Psychiatry: A Perspective and Proof of Concept Pilot Study With a Focus on Depression and Autism. JMIR Res Protoc. 2017 Jun 16;6(6):e114. doi: 10.2196/resprot.7245.
Provided Documents
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Document Type: Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan, and Informed Consent Form
Other Identifiers
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201504079
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id