Which patients sent to the emergency department by their GP could be treated in walk-in clinics in Île-de-France
Eligibility of Patients Referred to Emergency Departments by Their General Practitioners for Care in Walk-in Clinics: A Single-Center Study in Île-de-France
This study will see if adults sent to the emergency department by their GP could instead be safely treated in a walk-in clinic during weekday daytime hours.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Centre Hospitalier de Gonesse Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Gonesse, France) |
| Trial ID | NCT07122869 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will review adult patients who arrive at the Centre Hospitalier de Gonesse emergency department with a referral letter from a general practitioner during weekdays between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Using predefined clinical criteria and details of vital signs, treatments, and imaging performed, the team will determine which visits could have been managed in a walk-in clinic rather than the full ED. The observational single-center analysis excludes pediatric cases, clinically unstable patients, those needing intravenous therapies, heavy imaging (CT/MRI), or hospitalization. The aim is to quantify potentially avoidable ED visits and identify common referral reasons that could be redirected to primary-care settings.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) who present to the Gonesse ED with a GP referral during Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–8 p.m. who are clinically stable and do not require IV therapies, heavy imaging, or hospital admission.
Not a fit: Patients under 18, those arriving outside study hours, clinically unstable patients, or those needing IV treatment, CT/MRI, or inpatient admission are unlikely to benefit from redirection to a walk-in clinic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help reduce ED overcrowding and provide faster, more appropriate care by redirecting suitable GP-referred patients to walk-in clinics.
How similar studies have performed: Previous efforts to redirect nonurgent ED visits to walk-in or primary-care settings have shown mixed but generally modest success in reducing ED load, and fewer studies have focused specifically on GP-referred patients.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Patient referred to the emergency department (ED) with a letter from a general practitioner (GP) * ED visit during the study hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.) * Consultation in the selected adult emergency service * Medical or traumatic reason justifying the ED visit * Patient stable at arrival and during ED care Exclusion Criteria: * Patients under 18 years old (pediatric cases excluded) * No referral letter or proof of GP referral * ED visit outside study hours (weekends, nights) * Patients requiring intensive hospital care defined by: * Intravenous treatments (e.g., antibiotics, fluids) * Heavy imaging exams (CT scan, MRI) during the visit * Diagnoses with immediate life- or function-threatening conditions (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, severe infection) * Hospitalization decided during or after ED visit * Clinical instability at or during ED visit (abnormal vital signs, respiratory distress, etc.) * Patients referred for non-medical reasons (social issues, lack of medical follow-up)
Where this trial is running
Gonesse, France
- Centre Hospitalier de Gonesse — Gonesse, France, France (Recruiting)
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.