Deferred Care for Emergency Department Users with Nonacute Conditions
Authors: Robert A. Lowe, K John McConnell, Stephanie B. Abbuhl
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Letters16 September 2003Deferred Care for Emergency Department Users with Nonacute ConditionsRobert A. Lowe, MD, MPH, K John McConnell, PhD, and Stephanie B. Abbuhl, MDRobert A. Lowe, MD, MPHFrom Oregon Health and Science University; Portland, OR 97239; and University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA 19014.Search for more papers by this author, K John McConnell, PhDFrom Oregon Health and Science University; Portland, OR 97239; and University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA 19014.Search for more papers by this author, and Stephanie B. Abbuhl, MDFrom Oregon Health and Science University; Portland, OR 97239; and University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA 19014.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-6-200309160-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In describing a randomized trial on deferring care for emergency department users with nonacute conditions, Washington and colleagues concluded, Clinically detailed standardized screening criteria can safely identify patients at public hospital emergency departments for referral to next-day care. However, larger studies are needed to assess the possibility of adverse effects (1).This study suffers from selection bias. Of the patients screened, 421 met deferred care criteria but only 156 (37%) were studied. When faced with the possibility of being denied emergency department care, sicker patients are more likely to decline to participate in studies like this one; ...References1. Washington DL, Stevens CD, Shekelle PG, Henneman PL, Brook RH. Next-day care for emergency department users with nonacute conditions. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:707-14. [PMID: 12416944] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Lowe RA, Abbuhl SB. Appropriate standards for appropriateness research [Editorial]. Ann Emerg Med. 2001;37:629-32. [PMID: 11385332] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Abbuhl SB, Lowe RA. The inappropriateness of appropriateness [Editorial]. Acad Emerg Med. 1996;3:189-91. [PMID: 8673769] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Robert A. Lowe, MD, MPH; K John McConnell, PhD; Stephanie B. Abbuhl, MDAffiliations: From Oregon Health and Science University; Portland, OR 97239; and University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA 19014. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoNext-Day Care for Emergency Department Users with Nonacute Conditions Donna L. Washington , Carl D. Stevens , Paul G. Shekelle , Philip L. Henneman , and Robert H. Brook Deferred Care for Emergency Department Users with Nonacute Conditions Stephen R. Pitts Deferred Care for Emergency Department Users with Nonacute Conditions Arthur L. Kellermann Deferred Care for Emergency Department Users with Nonacute Conditions Donna L. Washington , Paul G. Shekelle , and Carl D. Stevens Metrics 16 September 2003Volume 139, Issue 6Page: 526KeywordsConfidence intervalsDisabilitiesEmergency departmentPatientsRandomized trials ePublished: 16 September 2003 Issue Published: 16 September 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...