What should I do after my emergency room (ER) visit?

Post-Emergency Department Visit Care

After your ER visit, you should understand your discharge instructions clearly, take medications as prescribed with proper demonstration of dosing, schedule and attend follow-up appointments (ideally within 1-2 weeks), and know when to return to the ER for worsening symptoms.

Immediate Post-Discharge Actions

Understand Your Discharge Instructions

• Request a "teach-back" session before leaving where you repeat key instructions back to the provider to confirm understanding, as this method improves comprehension and recall 1
• Obtain written discharge instructions in addition to verbal explanations, as combined counseling and written information improves adherence to treatment plans 1
• If you have limited English proficiency or health literacy concerns, ask for pictograms or visual aids to supplement written instructions, as these reduce medication errors 1
• Ensure you understand: your diagnosis, warning signs requiring immediate return, medication instructions with proper dosing demonstrations, and follow-up plans 1

Medication Management

• Have the provider demonstrate medication dosing and mark the correct dose on any dosing instruments (syringes, cups) before you leave, as this significantly decreases dosing errors in all patient populations 1
• Fill prescriptions immediately and take medications exactly as prescribed 1
• If you experience adverse reactions requiring a doctor visit or ER return, contact the prescribing physician immediately 1
• For pain medications like acetaminophen, stop use and contact a doctor if pain worsens or lasts more than 10 days, fever persists beyond 3 days, or new symptoms develop 2

Follow-Up Care Within 1-2 Weeks

Schedule and Attend Appointments

• Obtain a scheduled appointment before leaving the ED if possible, as this increases follow-up rates more effectively than just receiving referral information 1
• Follow up within 1-2 weeks to assess injury healing, medication adherence, and need for additional care 1
• If you have chronic conditions like asthma or COPD, early follow-up with your primary care physician or specialist within 30 days significantly reduces risk of ER revisits (14% reduction) and readmissions (9% reduction) 3
• For asthma patients specifically, consider vaccination for pneumococcal disease before discharge if clinically stable, as asthma is a high-risk condition warranting vaccination 4

Barriers to Follow-Up

Common reasons patients fail to follow up include inability to obtain appointments (34% of cases), lack of understanding of referral reasons (58% didn't understand why), and access barriers 1

• If you cannot get an appointment within the recommended timeframe, return to the ED for free follow-up, which has shown 83% completion rates compared to 53-60% for clinic or private physician appointments 5
• Request assistance with scheduling appointments, transportation vouchers, or other support services before discharge if needed 1

Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Return

General Red Flags

• Worsening symptoms despite treatment 2
• New or unexpected symptoms developing 2
• Inability to take medications due to side effects
• Confusion about care instructions that cannot be clarified by phone

High-Risk Populations

Geriatric patients (65+) should be screened for at-risk features before discharge, and if identified as high-risk, should receive next-day follow-up either by phone or preferably in-person evaluation 1

Mental health patients discharged after suicidal ideation or attempts should have a safety plan including: warning signs identification, coping strategies, emergency contact information, and means restriction counseling (securing medications, firearms, sharp objects) 1

Communication and Documentation

• Keep all discharge paperwork accessible for reference, as patients often don't recall everything discussed during the visit 1
• If the ER team offers telephone follow-up at 48 hours, engage with this contact as it may reduce subsequent ER revisits by over 50% 6
• Inform your primary care provider about the ER visit, though the ER should communicate this with your consent 1
• For pediatric or adolescent patients, ensure parents/guardians understand all instructions and can demonstrate proper medication administration 1

Special Considerations

Chronic Disease Management

Beyond acute issues, use the ER visit as an opportunity to improve chronic disease management by discussing ongoing conditions with your primary care provider at follow-up 1

Overdose or Poisoning Cases

If treated for opioid overdose with naloxone, understand that respiratory depression can recur, requiring extended observation periods especially with long-acting opioids 1