Evaluating a Telehealth Follow-up Program for Cardiology Patients Using Administrative Data

This project evaluated the effect of a telehealth follow-up intervention on readmission rates for patients discharged from the Saskatoon Health Region cardiology units with ACS or HF. 1-year readmission rates for ACS patients were 27.4% (95% CI: [26%, 29%]) before telehealth implementation and 25.2% (95% CI: [24%, 27%]) after, producing an insignificant hazard ratio of 1.07 (95% CI: [0.97, 1.18], P=0.1899). For HF 50.3% (95% CI: [44%, 56%]) of pre-implementation and 47.9% (95% CI: [43%, 53%]) of post-implementation patients had a 1-year readmission, producing a HR of 1.04 (95% CI: [0.83, 1.26], P=0.6882). This analysis found no significant effect of telehealth on readmission rates for ACS or HF patients.