Helping frequent emergency department users find better healthcare options
Point of ED Discharge Interactive Outreach: High ED Utilizers
This study is testing whether a phone call or a chatbot message can help frequent emergency room visitors find better healthcare options and reduce their visits to the emergency department.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 2279 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Geisinger Clinic Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Danville, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT06818825 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This campaign aims to reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency department (ED) by providing high utilizers with alternative healthcare resources. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either a phone call from a community health worker or an interactive chatbot message that offers similar information. The study will measure differences in ED usage between the two outreach methods and assess whether patients act on the recommendations provided. The goal is to encourage patients to utilize non-emergent healthcare resources effectively.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals with Geisinger Health Plan insurance or KACO membership who have had four or more ED visits in the past six months.
Not a fit: Patients who are institutionalized, cannot be contacted, or have more complex care needs may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly decrease unnecessary ED visits, leading to better healthcare resource management and improved patient outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success in reducing ED visits through similar outreach strategies, indicating that this approach is promising.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Geisinger Health Plan insurance or KACO membership * Any PCP or no PCP * Visit of any acuity * 4 or more ED visits in the past 6 months Exclusion Criteria: * Institutionalized * Cannot be contacted via the communication modality being used in the study (i.e., SMS), due to insufficient/missing contact information in the electronic health record or because the patient opted out * Admitted to hospital * Eloped from ED * Left ED without being seen * Deceased prior to messaging * Qualifies for more intensive care management due to higher-level category of complexity
Where this trial is running
Danville, Pennsylvania
- Geisinger Health System — Danville, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Amir Goren, PhD — Geisinger Clinic
- Study coordinator: Amir Goren, PhD
- Email: agoren@geisinger.edu
- Phone: 570-214-4395
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.