Nurse follow-up nudge to reduce emergency visits after ambulatory-sensitive diagnoses

Nurse Follow-up to Reduce Inappropriate Emergency Department Utilization in Adult Patients Seen for Ambulatory Sensitive Conditions in CMSL Study 2

Not applicable Interventional Geisinger Clinic · NCT07028398

This project will test whether a nurse follow-up message or phone call after a clinic visit can reduce emergency department visits among adults (30+) diagnosed with ambulatory sensitive conditions.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment12990 (estimated)
Ages30 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorGeisinger Clinic Academic / other
Locations1 site (Danville, Pennsylvania)
Trial IDNCT07028398 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized, intent-to-treat study compares adults age 30+ with an ambulatory-sensitive condition who are randomly assigned to receive nurse-initiated outreach (an automated Epic prompt prompts the nurse to send a patient portal message and/or place a call) versus standard care. Outreach occurs immediately after the qualifying clinic appointment and aims to provide guidance and care coordination to prevent near-term ED use. The primary outcome is any emergency department visit within seven days of the appointment. The current protocol modifies an earlier iteration (NCT06798389) based on prior results and clinical guidance and is conducted at Geisinger's Community Medicine Service Line in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Geisinger CMSL patients aged 30 or older who receive a qualifying ambulatory-sensitive diagnosis during a clinic visit.

Not a fit: Patients under 30, those without an ambulatory-sensitive diagnosis, people requiring immediate emergency care, or individuals without phone or patient-portal access are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the nudge could lower unnecessary short-term ED visits and improve timely care coordination for patients with ambulatory-sensitive conditions.

How similar studies have performed: A prior iteration of this intervention (NCT06798389) was conducted, and some nurse outreach interventions have shown reductions in ED use in certain settings, though results across studies are mixed.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 30 years +
* Has a qualifying visit in CMSL with an ambulatory sensitive condition (ASC) encounter diagnosis

Where this trial is running

Danville, Pennsylvania

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Behavioral InterventionEmergency Department VisitsNurse Care CoordinationNudge
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.