Veteran knowledge, perceptions, and receipt of care following visits to VA emergency departments for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.

Objective: Receipt of follow-up care after emergency department (ED) visits for chronic ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs)-asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, diabetes, and/or hypertension-is crucial. We assessed Veterans' follow-up care knowledge, perceptions, and receipt of care after visits to Veterans Health Administration (VA) EDs for chronic ACSCs.

Methods: Using explanatory sequential mixed methods, we interviewed Veterans with follow-up care needs after ACSC-related ED visits, and manually reviewed ED notes, abstracting interviewees' documented follow-up needs and care received.

The ED-PACT Tool Initiative: Communicating Veterans' Care Needs After Emergency Department Visits.

Background: Communication failures between providers threaten patient safety.

Purpose: We developed, implemented, and formatively evaluated the ED-PACT Tool, which uses the Veterans Health Administration's (VA) electronic health record to send messages from emergency department (ED) providers to primary care patient-aligned care team (PACT) registered nurses (RNs) for Veterans discharged home from the ED with urgent or specific follow-up needs.

Methods: We used Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement methodology.