Impact of Mobile Text Messaging on Follow Up Rates After Discharge From the Pediatric Emergency Department

Sem intervenção: Phone Call

Follow up contact is attempted via phone call.

Experimental: Text Message

Follow up contact is attempted via text message.

Outro: Text Message

Patient contact attempted with text message.

Number of phone call or text message attempts to successful contact with study participant

A study practitioner will make one attempt per business day to contact the patient or caregiver to provide test results and arrange follow-up care; the method will be determined by the study arm to which the participant is assigned. Participants in the standard practice control arm will receive a telephone call. If a call is not answered, a voice message will be left instructing the patient/parent to call the Pediatric Follow-Up Office. Participants in the intervention arm will receive a text message using the same script. A successful contact will be recorded when a practitioner speaks directly to the patient or parent/guardian via phone.