Use of the SONET Score to Evaluate High Volume Emergency Department Overcrowding: A Prospective Derivation and Validation Study

Figure 2

It shows the flow diagram of patients returning to the ED within 72 hours of initial visit during the derivation study period. There were total 440 ED returns in which 276 patients were discharged at their first ED visit. 66.3% (183/276) presented within 72 hours of their initial ED visit with the same complaint or one directly related to the initial one. Of these 9.8% (18/183) were admitted to hospital at their second ED visit. Follow-up of these patients in hospital showed no significant worsening of their outcomes.