A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Hospital-to-Home Transitions Using Discharge Televisits.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Digital Health

Background:

• Hospital-to-home transitions are critical for patient recovery and safety.
• Ensuring timely and effective follow-up care is a persistent challenge.
• Resident-led discharge televisits offer a novel solution to bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of resident-led discharge televisits in improving follow-up completion rates.
• To compare the outcomes of televisits versus traditional in-person follow-up appointments.
• To assess the impact of televisits on emergency department revisits and readmissions.

Main Methods:

• A single-center quality improvement study in a pediatric unit.
• Implementation of resident-led phone call televisits within 72 hours of discharge.
• Comparison of televisit outcomes against in-person visits and baseline data, with preferential scheduling for televisits.

Main Results:

• Completed follow-up was 88.3% for televisits versus 63.3% for in-person visits, exceeding the 85% target.
• Televisits were 4.4 times more likely to result in completed follow-up compared to in-person visits.
• Emergency department visits and readmissions were comparable between televisit and in-person groups.

Conclusions:

• Resident-led discharge televisits are an effective strategy for increasing the completeness of post-discharge follow-up.
• This innovative model enhances patient care continuity and safety during transitions.
• Televisits represent a valuable tool for improving healthcare delivery in pediatric settings.