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A program for continuing care: implementation and outcome
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|April 1, 1978
Summary
Scheduling aftercare appointments within three days of hospital discharge and confirming them beforehand significantly improves patient follow-through. Post-discharge phone calls also enhance referral completion rates for continuing care.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Public Health
- Patient Aftercare
Background:
- Effective continuing care is crucial for patient recovery and reducing hospital readmissions.
- Referral completion rates for post-discharge care often present a challenge in healthcare systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the success rate of aftercare referrals from a large public hospital.
- To identify key factors influencing patient attendance for initial continuing care appointments.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of records from a continuing-care program at a Los Angeles public hospital.
- Retrospective review of 552 patients discharged over an eight-month period.
- Examination of appointment scheduling and confirmation practices.
Main Results:
- 418 out of 552 referred patients (75.7%) attended their first aftercare appointment.
- Appointments scheduled within three days of discharge and confirmed pre-discharge showed higher completion rates.
- A post-discharge phone call improved referral completion when same-day appointments were not feasible.
Conclusions:
- Timely scheduling (within three days) and pre-discharge confirmation are critical for successful aftercare referrals.
- Proactive communication strategies, such as phone calls, can mitigate barriers to continuing care access.
- Optimizing the referral process enhances patient engagement in post-hospital care.