Factors Correlated With Successful Pediatric Post-Discharge Phone Call Attempt and Connection.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Research
• Patient Safety
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Postdischarge phone calls are crucial for identifying errors during hospital-to-home transitions.
• Effective communication post-discharge can improve patient outcomes and reduce readmissions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing the attempt and success of postdischarge phone calls.
• To analyze predictors of call connectivity in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the multisite Project IMPACT dataset (Improving Pediatric Patient Centered Care Transitions).
• Included 0- to 18-year-old patients discharged between January 2014 and December 2017.
• Employed mixed model logistic regression to identify independent predictors of call attempt and connectivity.

Main Results:

• Postdischarge calls were attempted for 71.6% of discharges, with successful connection in 68.8%.
• Younger age (neonates and 1-6 years) and English as preferred language predicted higher call attempt and connectivity.
• Readmission within 3 days and federal/state payor status were negative predictors for call attempt and connectivity, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Targeted interventions, like improved interpreter services and reliable call models, can enhance postdischarge call attempt rates.
• Enhanced population-based communication strategies may improve call connectivity.
• Understanding predictors allows for tailored strategies to optimize postdischarge follow-up.