• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

One in Six Patients Discharged From Hospitals Needs Help to Prevent Potential Complications and Readmission

Posted on: Monday, 3 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

Cogent Healthcare:

-- Cogent Healthcare Data Shows Post-Discharge Calls Improve Patient Care by Resolving Problems with Follow-Up Care, Medications and New Symptoms -- Program Contributes to 40% Reduction in Readmissions and Provides "Safety Net" for Patients and Families

One in six patients discharged from a hospital has problems or questions that could create complications, slowing their recovery and even requiring readmission to the hospital, according to Cogent Healthcare, the nation's premier hospitalist company. These findings are based on Cogent data from follow-up calls which are routinely made to their patients within 24-48 hours of discharge.

"The period immediately following hospital discharge represents a potential gap in patient safety. Cogent is committed to making that transition of care from hospital to home more seamless for patients and their families," said Russell Holman, M.D., Cogent National Medical Director. "To ensure that patients understand their aftercare program and that they have an appointment with their primary care physician, our program includes a follow-up call within 24-48 hours of discharge. With these calls, we're able to resolve serious and potentially harmful problems of patients and sometimes prevent readmissions or return visits to the emergency room."

Data from the Cogent Service Center reveals that 17% of patients called reported a problem that may require intervention by a Cogent hospitalist physician or Clinical Care Coordinator nurse. Half of these patients (51%) need assistance to make the follow-up appointment with their primary care physician or specialists, 28% have difficulty understanding their prescription or obtaining the proper medication, 14% have medical symptoms that require attention and 7% have problems concerning home care or obtaining the medical equipment they need.

The follow-up calls contribute to Cogent's ability to decrease 30-day readmission rates by 40%, by providing the support and guidance to help patients stay compliant with their treatment program and continue their recovery at home.

When a Cogent patient is discharged from the hospital, the patient's family doctor receives a transcription from the hospitalist called a "transfer of care note," used in conjunction with the hospital discharge summary and medical record, within 24-48 hours so that the physician is fully informed about the patient's condition and treatment program. Prior to discharge, the Cogent homecoming call team calls each patient to verify that he or she understands and can follow every aspect of the home care regimen.

"For example, one patient told our caller that he didn't fill his prescription because he already had the medication at home. The caller checked, and it turned out the dosage for that medication was not the one the doctor prescribed," explains Cogent Service Center Director Debbie Micallef. "If patients don't already have an appointment with their family doctor for follow-up care, we help them set up that appointment and make sure they have a way to get to the doctor's office. If a patient says they cannot afford to see a doctor for follow-up, we can help them find a free local clinic where they can be seen. If patients are experiencing symptoms that could compromise their recovery, we call in doctors and clinical care coordinator nurses to make sure that they get immediate medical attention."

Cogent Healthcare provides inpatient management services to hospitals throughout the United States, built around the concept of the hospitalist physician and team who provide more efficient, timely care that is consistent with the best clinical practices established for the patient's condition. Having the hospitalist physician and nurses available to patients and their families in the hospital improves communication and contributes to the 96% patient satisfaction ratings that Cogent programs receive.

With so many families today separated by distance, the Cogent hospitalist often serves as the vital link in communication between a hospitalized elderly parent, an adult child who lives across the country and the parent's care team. The homecoming call promotes continuity of care from hospital discharge until the follow-up by the patient's primary care physician. This vital communication acts as a "safety net" for patients, especially those who may not have a strong support system at home, who may be uninsured and/or who may not have a family doctor. For patients who do not have a family doctor, Cogent identifies a doctor who will see the patient for follow-up care in his or her office, when the patient is admitted.

Cogent makes follow-up appointments with a patient's family doctor prior to discharge. Follow-up appointments are documented in the transfer of care note so when homecoming callers make contact with the patient, they are able to tell the patient exactly when and where the appointment is.

Hospital medicine is the fastest growing medical specialty in the U.S. today. Cogent's rapidly expanding programs can save $400-$1,000 per case, reduce length of a hospital stay by 30%, decrease 30-day readmission rates by 40%, while achieving 96% satisfaction ratings from primary care physicians.

About Cogent Healthcare, Inc.:

Cogent Healthcare, Inc. is a leading provider of services that improve the well being of hospitalized patients. Its vision is to improve care and efficiency by reducing variations in care, establishing best practices, identifying and removing barriers to efficient care and measuring outcomes. To this end, the company provides comprehensive programs in clinical care staffing, communication and data management that support the hospitalist physician in the delivery of inpatient care.

Cogent physicians continue to lead the profession by setting best practices for hospital medicine and providing a national mentoring program. For more information about Cogent Healthcare, visit www.cogenthealthcare.com or contact Andy Puterbaugh at 949-399-6089.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category