‘Coaches’ Help Released Hospital Patients

Patients who use a transition coach after leaving the hospital have a lower rate of being re-hospitalized, a U.S. study finds.

We were excited to see the significant reduction in hospital readmissions during the first 30 days while the coach was involved, said Dr. Eric Coleman of the University of Colorado at Denver. What was even more exciting, however, was the finding that these patients were significantly more likely to stay out of the hospital up to six months later.

The transitional period after leaving a hospital or facility is a vulnerable time for patients, often characterized by conflicting medical advice, medication errors and a lack of follow-up care, says Coleman.

The transition coach works with patients and their families to improve care in four areas: medication self-management, the creation of a personal health record maintained by the patient, obtaining timely follow-up care and developing a plan to best seek care if particular target symptoms arise.

The researchers estimate that for every 350 patients who receive the intervention, hospital costs will be reduced by approximately $300,000, according to the study published in Archives of Internal Medicine.