Effects of Care Provided by a Wound, Ostomy, and Nurse Team on Hospital Readmission Rates Among Pediatric Patients with Complex Wounds and Ostomies.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of a wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurse team on hospital readmissions in infants and children discharged from hospital with a complex wound or ostomy. Descriptive correlational design based on retrospective chart review. Inclusion criteria for the study were children (newborn to 18 years of age) admitted to hospital and discharged with a complex wound or ostomy. Thirty-day hospital readmission rates were compared for patients (N = 123) who were provided outpatient care by a WOC nurse team (n = 60) and those who did not receive care by the WOC team (n = 63). Data were collected via retrospective review of medical records. Hospital readmissions for patients with access to a wound and ostomy team were compared to those without access. Pediatric patients seen by a wound and ostomy team had significantly fewer readmissions to hospital when compared to patients not seen by a wound and ostomy team (P = 0.002). However, comparison of readmission rates for reasons attributed to complications related to a chronic wound or ostomy did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.244). Study findings suggest that services provided by a WOC nurse team improve all cause 30-day hospital readmission rates.