AUTHOR=Taules Yolanda , Gros Silvia , Viladrosa Maria , Llorens Natàlia , Solis Sílvia , Yuguero Oriol 

TITLE=Use of artificial intelligence for reverse referral between a hospital emergency department and a primary urgent care center

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Digital Health

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1546467

DOI=10.3389/fdgth.2025.1546467

ISSN=2673-253X

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThe demand for immediate care in emergency departments (EDs) has risen since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.ObjectiveTest the ability of AI to promote reverse referral and to provide patient education.MethodsPilot study that included patients presenting to our Hospital Emergency Department (HED) with a non severe disease and who met the inclusion criteria. The participants were asked to answer a series of questions using an electronic device and receive a recommendation for health attention. Then, patients could choose to either remain in the hospital or leave.Results427 patients finally participated in the pilot study. Within this population, 49.5% were women, and the mean patient age was 37.5 years. Mediktor recommended reverse referral to urgent care in 43.6%. Our results demonstrate that the tool is safe and provides accurate patient screening, correctly distinguishing between those who should continue to wait for HED care and those for whom an urgent care center is adequate.