Discharge Communication Practices for Children With Medical Complexity: A Retrospective Chart Review

Children with medical complexity (CMC) have an increased risk of adverse events after hospital discharge. Authors of previous studies have evaluated discharge communication practices with primary care providers (PCPs) in adults and general pediatric patients. There is a lack of evidence surrounding hospitalist communication practices at discharge for CMC. In this study, we explore hospitalist-to-PCP communication for CMC at hospital discharge.

A retrospective chart review was performed at a single tertiary care children's hospital. The population included patients with ≥1 complex chronic condition who were discharged from the pediatric hospitalist team. The presence, type, and quality of discharge communication were collected. A descriptive analysis in which we used χ², t test, Wilcoxon rank testing, and odds ratios was conducted to identify differences in communication practices in CMC.

We identified 368 eligible patients and reviewed their electronic medical records. Discharge communication was documented for 59% of patient encounters. Communication was less likely to occur for patients with technology dependence (P = .01), older patients (P = .02), and those who were admitted to a teaching service (P = .04). The quality of discharge summaries did not change for patients with technology dependence compared with patients without technology dependence.

Communication with the PCP at discharge was less likely to be documented in children with technology dependence. Hospitalists may encounter barriers in completion of appropriate and timely discharge communication with PCPs for CMC. Consistent handoff processes could be used to improve care for our patients with enhanced coordination needs.