Discharge Planning, Phone Call Linked to 11% Readmission Reduction

Patients discharged from a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital who met with a registered nurse (RN) during the discharge process and were contacted by phone by the registered nurse two to three days postdischarge had a significantly reduced likelihood of being readmitted within 30 days for the same cause, according to a study in the December 2012 Health Affairs. The predischarge meeting included a review of expected postdischarge care with the patient and his or her family or other home caregivers, and each patient was given a half-page handout that highlighted key “red flags” that should be monitored, as well as dates and times for follow-up medical care and the phone call the RN would be making.