Victims of violence are at high risk for unmet mental and physical health care needs which can translate into increased Emergency Department (ED) visits. We investigated the effectiveness of participation in a psychosocial, case management-based trauma recovery program on ED utilization.

A retrospective cohort study of ED utilization before and after referral to a Trauma Recovery Center (TRC). Charts of TRC participants from 6/2017–5/2019 who consented in clinic to their medical records being used for research were reviewed. The primary outcome was the change in ED utilization 6 months pre- and post-referral to a TRC. The secondary outcomes were factors associated with ED visits after TRC referral, including victimization or mental health issues.

The study group contained 143 patients, of which 82% identified as female and 62% identified as white. Many (39%, n = 56) were part of one or more vulnerable populations and type of victimization varied extensively. Intervention uptake was high as almost all (92%, n = 132) had at least one TRC encounter [median of 6 encounters (IQR 2–13)] and an average of 2.7 services used. Most participants (67.1%, n = 96) had no change in ED use. Forty (28.0%) had at least 1 ED visit 6 months before, 38 (26.8%) had at least 1 ED visit 6 months afterwards, and 81 (56.6%) had no ED visits during either timeframe. ED visits per person in the 6 months prior to referral were not different from visits per person in the 6 months after referral (0.52 vs 0.49, p = 0.76, paired t-test). Negative binomial regression indicated number of ED visits before referral (IRR 1.5, 95% confidence interval [1.27–1.79]) and pre-existing mental health conditions (IRR 2.2, 95% confidence interval [0.98–5.02]) were most associated with an increase in the incidence rate ratio of ED visits in the 6 months after referral.

Despite high engagement, a multidisciplinary Trauma Recovery Center did not reduce ED utilization. ED utilization prior to TRC was the most predictive factor of ED utilization afterwards.