Study Of ER Visits Suggests Lack Of Follow-Up Care

WASHINGTON (AP) - No one wants to make a repeat visit to the emergency room for the same complaint.

But new research suggests it's more common than previously thought -- and people frequently wind up at a different ER the second time around.

Already some ERs are taking steps to find out why and to try to prevent unnecessary returns.

The research suggests patients should be more aggressive in getting follow-up care.

It's also a reminder of how disconnected our health care system is.

Chances are, your primary care doctor won't know you made an ER visit unless you call about what to do next.

And if your second visit was to a different ER, often doctors can't see earlier X-rays or other tests and have to repeat them, adding preventable costs.