I worry about patients after I discharge them from the emergency room. It might seem strange that an ER doctor would worry about this; isn't it a good thing that I've done my job and ruled out any life- or limb-threatening illness or injury in my patients?

What happened: We've seen a record volume of patients this summer. Primary care doctors and other medical specialists are still trying to manage a pandemic-caused backlog of appointments and procedures. Unable to be seen in a timely manner, patients were directed to the ER.

Follow-up after an ER visit is a critical but often overlooked part of a patient's ER visit. Doctors are forced to rush this process because another patient needs the bed, and patients are eager to go home after their visit which likely included a multi-hour stay in the waiting room.

Keep these key points in mind during and after your discharge from the ER – because you may need to come back.

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Get a printed copy of all your results

Be sure to ask your doctor for a printed copy of all your laboratory results and diagnostic imaging like X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. Also ask for the images to be placed on a CD.

Bear in mind most hospitals and health systems now provide an app or website where you can log in and view the results of your visit. But don't assume that your doctor's office will have access to your results automatically. The electronic medical record (EMR) is very fragmented in the U.S.; there are multiple EMR systems and platforms don't always sync well with each other.

Review medications after multiple ER visits for potential dangerous side effects

Over the last few years , I've noticed that patients are getting more of their medical care in the ER than actually at their primary care doctor's office. Unfortunately, that outcome is fraught with a lot of opportunity for poly-pharmacy: multiple ER doctors changing or adding new medications that could overlap and cause dangerous side effects. This is particularly true with medications for high blood pressure and diabetes.

Please ask your ER doctor to review all your current medications and supplements. Larger hospitals may have a dedicated ER pharmacist on hand who can help review your medication list as well.

Clarify timeframe for follow-up

A lot of doctors will habitually tell patients to "follow up with your primary doc" but neglect to specify the timeframe or urgency to do so. We often tell patients to follow up for specific reasons, whether to repeat an abnormal blood test, obtain a referral for a specialist or for a timely wellness check. Please clarify with your ER doctor if there's an urgent need for follow up or if you can wait for your annual follow-up visit.

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When to return to the ER

Ask your ER doctor which signs and symptoms you should watch out for to signify that your condition is getting worse or not responding to outpatient treatment and warrants a return.

For example, for common infections like cellulitis, pneumonia or pyelonephritis, we wonder whether to admit a patient for intravenous antibiotics or discharge home with oral antibiotics. Using "shared decision-making," we involve the patient in this discussion, taking into account their personal factors like caregiving responsibilities, their job, pets and whether they can responsibly treat their condition outside of the hospital.

Sometimes due to the nature of the disease they don't improve at home. Such signs of a worsening infection warranting a return to the ER include continued fever despite antibiotics, uncontrollable vomiting preventing patients from taking oral antibiotics and altered mental status.

Michael Daignault, MD, is a board-certified ER doctor in Los Angeles. He studied Global Health at Georgetown University and has a Medical Degree from Ben-Gurion University. He completed his residency training in emergency medicine at Lincoln Medical Center in the South Bronx. He is also a former United States Peace Corps Volunteer. Find him on Instagram @dr.daignault

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hospital emergency room doctor: Why I worry about patients after visit

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