profession
Patient "coaches" slash hospital readmissions by 36%
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 8, 2011
Hospital patients with cardiac and respiratory conditions who receive 30 days of follow-up from a "coach" are 36% less likely to be readmitted within a month after being discharged.
The study of more than 15,000 patients at six Rhode Island acute-care hospitals, published July 25 in Archives of Internal Medicine, found that 20% of patients who did not get coaching were readmitted within 30 days. Less than 13% of patients who had coaching -- one hospital visit, one home visit and two follow-up phone calls discussing how to track and manage their health -- had to return to the hospital within the month.
The findings add to the evidence that dedicated efforts to improve care transitions can help patients better manage their health and avoid the hospital, said the study (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/08/08/prbf0808.htm.
