Patients who visit the emergency department for kidney stones are sometimes referred to urology for follow-up care but never complete that visit. Missing follow-up appointments can lead to worse outcomes, including recurrent pain, infection, or surgery. Research shows that patients who are socially or economically at risk (such as those with public insurance, lower income, or limited English proficiency) are more likely to experience these care gaps.
This study will pilot a patient navigation program designed to help patients with urinary stone disease (USD) attend their scheduled urology appointments after being seen in the Emergency Department. Using an electronic health record (EHR) based prediction model developed in earlier research, patients at higher risk for being lost to follow-up will be identified and invited to participate. Each participant will be paired with a trained patient navigator who will assess barriers to care, provide support, and maintain contact for about 12 weeks.
The goal of this study is to evaluate the outcomes and feasibility of this navigation intervention. Findings will help determine whether a larger study should test if this approach improves access to care and health outcomes for patients with kidney stones.