Conclusion
In this study, most older patients returned unplanned to the ED for medical reasons, whereas URVs for patient-related reasons, such as uncertainty about health or misunderstanding of discharge instructions, were less common. These findings may explain why many transitional care programs that focus on patient education and post-discharge support are ineffective in reducing URVs. In addition, the results suggest that most patients who return to the ED require urgent care. This fuels the discussion as to whether URVs can or need to be prevented.