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Improving Follow-Up for Discharged Emergency Care Patients

NCT03002311 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 327

Last updated 2020-11-24

Study results available
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Summary

This study's purpose is to test the effects of an electronic health intervention platform developed by Epharmix (also known as CareSignal), which features two-way SMS text messages and phone calls intended to improve clinical outcomes compared to the standard of care. This was a randomized open, blinded end-point (PROBE) trial of 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 that automatically 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 the follow-up appointment.

Conditions

  • General Medicine
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Mobile Health

Interventions

DEVICE

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Epharmix, Inc.

    collaborator INDUSTRY

  • Washington University School of Medicine

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Will R Ross, MD, MPH · Washington University School of Medicine

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
5 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-01-01
Primary Completion
2017-09-18
Completion
2018-03-09

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03002311 on ClinicalTrials.gov