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Impact of a pharmacy-based transitional care program on hospital readmissions
Weiyi Ni1, Danielle Colayco, Jonathan Hashimoto
1University of Southern California, 635 Downey Way, VPD Ste 210, Los Angeles, CA 90089-3333.
The American Journal of Managed Care
|April 8, 2017
Summary
Pharmacist-led transition of care services significantly reduced hospital readmissions by up to 31.9% within 180 days for high-risk Medicaid patients. This community pharmacy intervention improves patient outcomes and lowers healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Pharmacy Practice
- Health Outcomes
Background:
- Avoidable hospital readmissions represent a significant concern in healthcare systems.
- Effective post-discharge interventions are crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare expenditures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of pharmacist-provided transition of care (TOC) services on hospital readmission rates.
- To assess the effectiveness of a community pharmacy-based TOC program for high-risk managed Medicaid patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study comparing patients receiving pharmacist-led TOC services with a matched control group.
- High-risk patients identified using prior utilization, health risk assessment, and predictive modeling.
- Outcomes measured included 30-day and 180-day readmissions and time-to-readmission, analyzed using logistic regression and Cox models.
Main Results:
- The pharmacist-led TOC intervention reduced 30-day readmission risk by 28% (OR, 0.720; 95% CI, 0.526-0.985).
- A 31.9% reduction in 180-day readmission risk was observed (OR, 0.681; 95% CI, 0.507-0.914).
- The Cox model estimated a 25% reduction in readmission risk (HR, 0.749; 95% CI, 0.566-0.992).
Conclusions:
- Community pharmacy-based postdischarge TOC programs can significantly decrease hospital readmission rates.
- These programs offer a valuable strategy for improving care transitions and reducing readmissions at 30 and 180 days.