Posted: April 29th, 2024

Examining the impact of a nurse-led transitional care program on 30-day hospital readmission rates

Examining the impact of a nurse-led transitional care program on 30-day hospital readmission rates.
Nurse-led transitional care programs (TCPs) are interventions that aim to improve the quality and continuity of care for patients who are discharged from the hospital to the community, especially those with multiple chronic conditions and depressive symptoms. TCPs involve a registered nurse who provides individualized care delivery, including in-home visits, telephone follow-up, and system navigation support, for a period of six months or longer. TCPs have been shown to reduce hospital readmission rates, length of stay, and healthcare costs, as well as to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

One of the main goals of TCPs is to prevent avoidable hospital readmissions, which are costly and detrimental to patient health and well-being. According to a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) by Li and Fang (2021), nurse-led TCPs for patients with heart failure resulted in a 9% reduction in all-cause readmission risk and a 29% reduction in heart failure-specific readmission risk compared to usual care. Similarly, Markle-Reid et al. (2021) found that a nurse-led TCP for older adults with multimorbidity and depressive symptoms reduced the number of hospital readmissions by 25% compared to usual care.

Another goal of TCPs is to enhance patient self-management skills and confidence, which are essential for coping with chronic conditions and maintaining optimal health. TCPs provide patients with education, counseling, coaching, and empowerment strategies to help them manage their medications, symptoms, lifestyle changes, and psychosocial needs. TCPs also facilitate communication and coordination among patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers across different settings and levels of care. By doing so, TCPs ensure that patients receive timely, appropriate, and consistent care that meets their preferences and goals.

TCPs are evidence-based interventions that have been tested and implemented in various settings and populations. However, there is still room for improvement and innovation in the design, delivery, and evaluation of TCPs. For instance, some challenges that TCPs face include identifying the optimal components, duration, intensity, and frequency of the intervention; tailoring the intervention to the specific needs and characteristics of different patient groups; integrating the intervention into existing healthcare systems and policies; and measuring the long-term effects and cost-effectiveness of the intervention.

In conclusion, nurse-led TCPs are promising interventions that can improve the quality and continuity of care for patients who transition from the hospital to the community. TCPs can reduce hospital readmissions, lengthen hospital stay, lower healthcare costs, and enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction. However, more research is needed to determine the best practices and strategies for implementing TCPs in various contexts and populations.

References

Li Y., Fang J. (2021). Effects of nurse-led transitional care interventions for patients with heart failure on healthcare utilization: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLOS ONE 16(12): e0261300. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261300

Markle-Reid M., McAiney C., Fisher K., Ganann R., Gauthier A.P., Heald-Taylor G., McElhaney J.E., McMillan F., Petrie P., Ploeg J., Urajnik D.J., Whitmore C. (2021). Effectiveness of a nurse-led hospital-to-home transitional care intervention for older adults with multimorbidity and depressive symptoms: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE 16(7): e0254573. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254573

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