Reducing ER Visits and Readmissions after Head and Neck Surgery Through a Phone-based Quality Improvement Program

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Head and neck cancer surgery and laryngectomy require close postoperative monitoring.
• Emergency room (ER) visits and readmissions are common challenges post-discharge.
• Timely interventions can mitigate complications and improve patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of early postoperative patient phone calls and virtual wound checks on ER visits and readmissions.
• To assess the effectiveness of a 72-hour post-discharge contact strategy.
• To determine if proactive outreach reduces healthcare utilization and enhances patient care.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm trial compared outcomes to historical control data for head and neck cancer operations/laryngectomy patients.
• Patients were contacted within 72 hours of discharge, with options for video calls or photo sharing.
• A wound care phone facilitated patient-provider communication for additional questions.

Main Results:

• Of 91 eligible patients, 83 (91.2%) were contacted. Six patients (7%) were readmitted.
• Contacted patients reported 18 (21.7%) instances where the call prevented an ER visit.
• A statistically significant decrease in ER visits (P < .05) was observed compared to the prior year, with no change in readmissions.

Conclusions:

• Early postoperative phone calls can decrease unnecessary ER visits.
• Proactive patient contact enhances patient satisfaction and can improve care.
• This strategy shows potential for reducing healthcare system strain.