Observational studyJMIR mHealth and uHealth2025
Implementation and Evaluation of a Virtual Transitional Care Intervention Using Automated Text Messaging and Virtual Visits After Emergency Department Discharges: Retrospective Cohort Study.
Observational study in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- An Evidence-Based Framework for Patient-Facing Artificial Intelligence Integration in the Emergency Department.Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open · 2026Article
- Latent profiles and associated factors of readiness for hospital discharge among patients undergoing orthognathic surgery: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding and avoidable revisits challenge health systems, with approximately 20% of patients returning within 30 days. ED-based transitional care interventions, including automated SMS text messaging, offer scalable, cost-effective means to improve follow-up, though evidence remains limited. Objective: This study evaluated a transitional care intervention combining SMS text messaging and virtual transitional care visits to reduce ED revisits and improve outpatient follow-up. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included patients discharged from 4 EDs within a single US health system between September 2023 and September 2024. Patients were categorized into two groups based on intervention engagements: (1) completed (requested, scheduled, and completed a visit) and (2) noncompleted (requested, scheduled, and did not complete). The primary outcome was spontaneous, unplanned ED revisits within 90 days; secondary outcomes included outpatient follow-up and time to first outpatient evaluation. Between-group differences were assessed using descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models (with P<.05 considered statistically significant). Results: Of 68,115 discharged patients, 42.72% (29,100/68,115) received an automated SMS text messaging for the virtual transitional care program, and 2.93% (853/29,100) accessed the scheduling link. Of these, 56.5% (482/853) requested a visit, 49.8% (240/482) scheduled, and 70% (168/240) completed the visit (completed group). Among 72 noncompleted patients, 57% (n=41) did not show, 32% (n=23) canceled, and 11% (n=8) scheduled 2 appointments but completed neither. Nearly half (35/72, 49%) of the noncompleted group had a subsequent ambulatory follow-up. Demographics, comorbidities, and acuity were similar. The noncompleted group was nearly twice as likely to return to the ED within 90 days (21/72, 29% vs 28/150 18.7%; χ21=4.20, P=.04; odds ratio 2.11, 95% CI 1.02-4.33), while the completed group was more likely to complete outpatient follow-up (35/72, 49% vs 51/168, 30.4%; χ21=6.60, P=.01; odds ratio 2.15, 95% CI 1.03-4.77). Time to first outpatient visit did not differ significantly between groups (mean 15.7, SD 19.0 d vs mean 19.8, SD 20.7 d; Δβ=-1.93, 95% CI -10.09 to 6.42; P=.65). Conclusions: A combined SMS text messaging and virtual transitional care program lowered 90-day ED revisits and increased outpatient follow-up, but engagement was low (2.9%). Future work should focus on optimizing care delivery and developing strategies to expand reach across the broader ED discharge population.
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