Implementation of a Discharge Education Program to Improve Transitions of Care for Patients at High Risk of Medication Errors.
Ann Pharmacother
; 54(6): 561-566, 2020 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31868004
ABSTRACT
Background:
Transitions of care (TOC) points are those where patient outcomes can be affected, especially patients at high risk for medication errors. Pharmacist-led postdischarge telephone counseling positively affects patient outcomes, though challenges exist relating to successful patient contact.Objective:
The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a discharge education service bridging the inpatient and outpatient setting to increase successful patient contact points during the TOC process from hospital to home.Methods:
This prospective, single-centered observational study examined the impact of a discharge medication education program on successful telephone follow-up contact. The primary outcome was the percentage of high-risk patients educated at hospital discharge who were successfully reached via follow-up telephone contact within 2 business days of discharge. Secondary end points included hospital readmission rates and patient survey responses.Results:
A total of 50 patients were included in the initial evaluation of this service; 78% of patients were successfully contacted within 2 business days after discharge, an increase from a 20% success rate prior to service implementation. At follow-up telephone calls, patients reported taking an average of 16 medications. The 30-day readmission rate was 10% for patients receiving this service, compared with 19% prior to implementation. When asked if they understood the medication component of their care and if they found the TOC service to be satisfactory, 100% and 96% of patients strongly agreed or agreed with these statements, respectively, and none disagreed. Conclusion and Relevance This service demonstrates how pharmacists can interact with a high-risk population and increase contact points to optimize care at crucial health care transition points.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Patient Discharge
/
Patient Education as Topic
/
Aftercare
/
Medication Errors
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Sysrev_observational_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Pharmacother
Journal subject:
FARMACOLOGIA
/
TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States