Physician assistant home visit program to reduce hospital readmissions

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Hospital readmissions pose a significant burden on healthcare systems.
• Cardiac surgery patients are at high risk for readmission.
• Effective post-discharge interventions are crucial for reducing readmission rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a physician assistant home care (PAHC) program on 30-day hospital readmission rates.
• To identify determinants of readmission and interventions used in a PAHC program.
• To assess the effectiveness of PAHC in reducing readmissions after cardiac surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of cardiac surgery patients over 26 months.
• Comparison of readmission rates between a control group and a PAHC group.
• PAHC involved physician assistant house calls on postoperative days 2 and 5.

Main Results:

• Overall readmission rate decreased by 25% in the PAHC group (16% vs. 12%).
• Infection-related readmissions significantly reduced (44% to 19%, P=.010).
• Medication adjustment was the most frequent home intervention (90%).

Conclusions:

• PAHC program significantly reduced 30-day readmission rates by 25% post-cardiac surgery.
• Medication adjustment, particularly diuretics, hypoglycemia, and antibiotics, was a key intervention.
• PAHC demonstrates a promising strategy for improving post-discharge care and reducing readmissions.