SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Comparative Analysis of a Telehospitalist Program in a Postacute Care

Pdf Summary

This study evaluated a telehospitalist program implemented in August 2021 at Roosevelt Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital, a rural inpatient rehabilitation facility facing physician staffing shortages. The authors examined patient outcomes over two fiscal years after implementation and compared them with regional and national benchmarks.<br /><br />A total of 371 patients were seen in FY22 and 340 patients in FY23 so far. Key measures included length of stay (LOS), case mix index (CMI), and community discharge rate. After the telehospitalist program began, LOS improved from 17.07 days in FY20 to 15.54 in FY21 and 13.45 in FY22, with FY23 trending at 14.37 days. This is now similar to regional and national averages of about 14.5 days. CMI remained comparable to or slightly below regional and national values, indicating similar patient complexity. Community discharge rates were also similar to benchmark data, with 83% in FY22 and 77.06% in FY23, matching regional and national rates.<br /><br />Overall, the findings suggest that the telehospitalist program maintained safe and effective care while improving operational performance, particularly reducing length of stay. The program also helped stabilize staffing in a rural facility without negatively affecting quality outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Cassandre M. Perard

Meta Tag

Author List Cassandre M. Perard, David W. Walsh, Jackson Elam, Yao Kang

Category Innovations

Concept Telehospitalist Program

Concept Length of Stay

Concept Community Discharge Rate

Concept Patient Safety

Concept Hospital in Home Effectiveness

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Wellstar-MCG-Health

Presenting Author Cassandre M. Perard

Track Technology in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

telehospitalist

rehabilitation hospital

rural healthcare

physician staffing shortages

length of stay

case mix index

community discharge

patient outcomes

telemedicine

operational performance

Telehospitalist Program

Length of Stay

Community Discharge Rate

Patient Safety

Hospital in Home Effectiveness