Beyond the emergency department: the use of mobile health discharge interventions-a scoping review

Mobile health interventions can enhance post-emergency department (ED) care by improving care transitions and optimizing patient follow-up, yet their utility remains underexplored. Our objective was to review mobile health discharge interventions from the ED and to characterize these interventions by technology types, patient and clinical populations studied, and outcomes assessed.

We performed a scoping review of mobile health interventions supporting post-ED care following Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Four databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central and Systematic Reviews) were searched for studies in English from 2007 to 2024. Included studies were mobile health interventions administered within ED settings focused on the clinical encounter. Abstract and full-text screening were performed by two independent reviewers. Data were charted by technology type, intended clinical use, and outcomes.

Of 4,313 records identified, 43 studies were included. Most articles were published between 2021 and 2024 (28, 65%), were pilot studies (18, 42%) and in single academic site with adult patients. Technologies included text messaging (18, 42%), remote patient monitoring (16, 37%), and mobile phone applications (9, 21%). Common conditions studied included respiratory disease (12, 28%), general post-ED care across all presenting complaints (8, 19%), and infectious disease (6, 14%). Among primary outcomes, health systems outcomes were frequently assessed (18, 42%), followed by feasibility (13, 30%) and clinical outcomes (10, 23%). Across all outcomes, most studies reported improved outpatient follow-up adherence (78%, 7/9) and clinical disease states (54%, 6/11). ED revisit rates varied in the 17 studies that reported it (41% [7] no change, 29% [5] reduced, 29% [5] no comparator group).

Mobile health interventions have been introduced to support post-ED care with emerging, yet limited evidence of their impact on ED revisit rates, follow-up care, and enhanced clinical outcomes.