SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Effect of Follow-Up Appointments on Unplanned 30-Day Readmissions

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This retrospective cohort study examined whether scheduling a follow-up appointment at discharge affected 30-day unplanned readmissions among 3,624 adults discharged home from a hospitalist teaching service between July 2021 and June 2022.<br /><br />Key findings:<br />- 50.2% (1,819/3,624) had a PCP or specialist appointment scheduled before discharge.<br />- 12.2% (441/3,624) were readmitted within 30 days.<br />- Higher LACE scores were associated with both a greater chance of having a scheduled appointment and a greater risk of readmission:<br />  - Each 1-point increase in LACE increased the odds of having an appointment by 1.10 times (95% CI 1.07–1.11).<br />  - Each 1-point increase in LACE increased the odds of readmission by 1.2 times (95% CI 1.16–1.23).<br /><br />Interpretation:<br />- In the overall group, patients who had a follow-up appointment scheduled were paradoxically more likely to be readmitted.<br />- However, when patients were stratified by LACE risk level, follow-up appointments did not appear to reduce readmissions in either high-LACE or intermediate-LACE patients.<br />- The authors suggest this association may reflect confounding by indication: clinicians may be more likely to arrange follow-up for patients already perceived to be at higher risk of readmission.<br /><br />Conclusion:<br />Scheduling follow-up appointments may help in certain disease-specific populations, but in this broad general medicine cohort it was not associated with lower 30-day readmission rates.

Asset Subtitle

Nai Chien Yeat

Meta Tag

Author List Andrew Price, James Capon, John Hon, Lucrezia Renzetti, Nai Chien Yeat, Nazish Ilyas, Rahul Kurapati, Vladimir Ornstein

Category Research

Concept Retrospective Cohort Study

Concept Scheduled Follow-Up Appointments

Concept 30-Day Readmission

Concept LACE

Concept Confounding Factor

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Lenox Hill Hospital

Presenting Author Nai Chien Yeat

Track Transitions of Care

Keywords

retrospective cohort study

30-day readmission

follow-up appointment

discharge planning

hospitalist teaching service

LACE score

unplanned readmission

primary care physician

specialist appointment

confounding by indication

Retrospective Cohort Study

Scheduled Follow-Up Appointments

30-Day Readmission

LACE

Confounding Factor