There are several important reasons for the appropriate outpatient follow-up of ED patients: (1) delayed complications can be identified and treated; (2) misdiagnoses can be recognized and appropriate changes in management can be implemented; (3) inadequate treatment can be revised; (4) patient noncompliance with prescribed treatment and medications can be identified and steps taken to assist and educate the patient; and (5) secondary costs can be decreased due to more cost-effective management of the disease.
To improve the understanding of factors affecting outpatient follow-up compliance in general adult ED patients, we conducted a clinical trial to compare the frequency of outpatient follow-up compliance for ED patients with two different discharge instructional methods. We found that patients who have their follow-up appointment made at the time of discharge and those with a primary care physician have a significantly greater probability of following up with the referring physician. | 
