02. Association between telemedicine or in-person follow-up visits and return hospitalization

When a patient is discharged from the emergency department (ED), it is crucial and often advised that patients seek follow-up care promptly to ensure recovery and prevent return to the hospital, especially for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic illness. Along with in-person visits, telemedicine is used as a means to deliver outpatient care, especially after the widespread adoption of telemedicine during Covid-19. The aim of the study is to determine if telemedicine or in-person follow-up visits is associated with differences in return hospitalization by using multivariable logistic regression and time-to-event model. The time of exposure, that is, telemedicine or in-person visit, is considered in two different ways in these two models – in the multivariable logistic regression time is measured discretely by week in which the follow-up visit occurred and in the time-to-event model time-varying exposure is considered. 

Follow-up visits

Telemedicine

In-person visits

Return hospitalization

Multivariable logistic regression

Time-to-event analysis 

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