Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2011
ReviewReview article: People who present on multiple occasions to emergency departments.
Research about people who present on multiple occasions to the ED began in the 1980s. Despite this, little is known of their journey as patients. Understanding ED use as a journey can help clinicians improve how they meet the needs of this patient group. ⋯ This patient group often have high and complex health needs, engage extensively with other health services and have poor long-term health outcomes. The issue of multiple presentations to the ED is complex and ongoing because of the morbidity of the people concerned, the preference of patients to attend, the purpose of the ED and preparation and role of the personnel and the difficulties with continuity of care. The provision of care for people who present on multiple occasions can be improved within the ED and health services generally through a better understanding of presentations.