Optimizing value-based care and patient experience following pancreatectomy: initial experience with remote...

Pancreatectomies confer risks of morbidity, extended hospital stays, and readmissions. Building on previous monitoring of non-surgical patients' post-discharge, we implemented a remote monitoring program to reduce inpatient healthcare utilization and enhance in-home recovery following pancreatectomy. Herein, we report our initial experience with the Pancreatectomy Remote Patient Monitoring (PREMO) program.

Eligible patients undergoing pancreatectomy 10/2022-2/2023 were invited to participate in PREMO for 30 days or until "graduation" criteria were met. The PREMO cohort was compared by descriptive statistical analysis to a historical control group of patients (N = 751) undergoing pancreatectomy from 1/2019-12/2021.

Of the ninety-one patients enrolled in PREMO, the median hospital length of stay was 6.0 days (IQR 3) compared to 7.0 days (IQR 5) in the historical control group (n=751) (P=0.01). The enrolled population and Whipple subgroup had lower rates of readmissions at 7, 14, 30, and 60 days. Post-graduation surveys reported that patients agreed that they would recommend PREMO to others (98%) and felt more comfortable managing their health at home (92%).

PREMO was successfully implemented, conferred excellent patient-reported care quality, and an observed reduction in LOS and readmissions. Ongoing studies are evaluating an expanded PREMO version toward enhancing value-based post-pancreatectomy care.