Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Evaluation of a Meds-to-Beds Program to Reduce Readmissions After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Katherine E Di Palo1, Pavel Goriacko2, Mark Menegus3
1Montefiore Health System, Center of Pharmacotherapy Research & Quality, Bronx, New York, USA; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
Insights
A meds-to-beds program did not reduce 30-day hospital readmissions after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Further research should explore medication adherence and patient satisfaction to assess program effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Unplanned hospitalizations post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are frequent, indicating a need for effective health system interventions.
- Few studies have detailed health system strategies to mitigate readmissions in patients undergoing PCI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To implement and assess a meds-to-beds program's impact on 30-day hospital readmissions in a diverse, underserved population undergoing PCI.
- To evaluate the program's effect on cardiac-related readmissions and provider satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- An observational study was conducted in a diverse, medically underserved cohort receiving PCI at an academic medical center.
- The intervention involved pharmacist-directed counseling and a free 1-month supply of dual antiplatelet therapy before discharge.
- Outcomes were compared to a control group receiving standard discharge instructions and prescriptions, focusing on 30-day all-cause and cardiac-related readmissions.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in 30-day all-cause readmissions was observed between the meds-to-beds group (9.0%) and the control group (9.7%).
- While the intervention group showed a lower rate of 30-day cardiac-related readmissions (2.9% vs. 6.3%), this finding was not statistically significant after adjusting for confounders.
- Providers reported improved safety and quality during care transitions with the intervention.
Conclusions:
- The implemented meds-to-beds program did not reduce 30-day readmissions for patients who underwent PCI.
- Future medication delivery programs could benefit from evaluating medication adherence and patient satisfaction as key performance indicators.
Background:
Unplanned hospitalizations following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are common and represent an opportunity to improve outcomes and reduce costs. However, health system interventions to reduce readmissions in this population are not well described.
Objectives:
We aimed to implement a meds-to-beds program and evaluate its impact on 30-day readmissions.
Methods:
We performed an observational study among a medically underserved diverse cohort of adults who received emergent or elective PCI at an academic medical center in Bronx County, NY. The meds-to-beds program consisted of a pharmacist-directed counseling and a free, 1-month supply of dual antiplatelet therapy before discharge. The intervention was compared to the standard of care control group that received instructions and dual antiplatelet therapy prescriptions at discharge. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause hospital readmissions. Secondary outcomes included 30-day cardiac-related readmissions and provider satisfaction.
Results:
A total of 662 patients were included. In a multivariable analysis, 30-day all-cause readmissions did not differ between the intervention and control groups with respective incidences of 9.0% and 9.7% (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.58-1.97). Although the 30-day cardiac-related readmission rate was significantly lower in the intervention group (2.9%) compared to the control group (6.3%), this association did not remain significant after confounder adjustment (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.21-1.18). Providers perceived that the intervention improved safety and quality during transitions of care.
Conclusions:
A meds-to-beds program was not associated with readmission reduction among adults who received PCI. Other measures, such as medication adherence and patient satisfaction, could be employed to assess the effectiveness of future medication delivery programs.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
01:27Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
01:20Angina V: Nursing Management
01:26Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management
01:26Acute Coronary Syndrome V: Nursing Management