A conceptual framework for improved analyses of 72-hour return cases

Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Jan;33(1):104-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.08.005. Epub 2014 Aug 7.

Abstract

For more than 25 years, emergency medicine researchers have examined 72-hour return visits as a marker for high-risk patient visits and as a surrogate measure for quality of care. Individual emergency departments frequently use 72-hour returns as a screening tool to identify deficits in care, although comprehensive departmental reviews of this nature may consume considerable resources. We discuss the lack of published data supporting the use of 72-hour return frequency as an overall performance measure and examine why this is not a valid use, describe a conceptual framework for reviewing 72-hour return cases as a screening tool, and call for future studies to test various models for conducting such quality assurance reviews of patients who return to the emergency department within 72 hours.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electronic Health Records
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Episode of Care*
  • Humans
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care*