By Merin C. MacDonald | Date published: August 20, 2024
Mobile Integrated Health Transitional Care Intervention Shows Lowered Risk of Rehospitalization in Frail Older Adults
Rehospitalization of frail older adults after they are discharged from the hospital poses a challenge to hospitals and can be harmful to patients. Mobile integrated health (MIH) programs that deliver transitional care to patients could be an effective solution.
In a recent pilot study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, investigators from the Departments of Medicine and Emergency Medicine assessed the feasibility and implementation of an MIH transitional care program. Transitional home care visits were conducted by paramedics within 72 hours of the patients’ hospital discharge. During their visits, paramedics were able to identify acute clinical problems, request additional services for patients, and detect medication errors. The team found that the risk of 30-day rehospitalization was lower in the study group compared with the control and that there was also a trend toward a decreased risk of 30-day emergency department visits.
The collaborative study team included Laurel O’Connor, MD, MSc, Stephanie Sison, MD, Kimberly Eisenstock, MD, Kouta Ito, MD, MS, Sarah McGee, MD, MPH, Xhenifer Mele, BA, Israel Del Poza, BSN, Michael Hall, MD, MS, Abbey Smiley, MD, Julie Inzerillo, Kerri Kinsella, Apurv Soni, MD, PhD, Eric Dickson, MD, MHCM, John Broach, MD, MPH, MBA, and David McManus, MD, ScM.