Key result
Structured nonphysician telephone visits yield comparable 30-day HF readmissions to in-person clinic visits.
Why the study?
Early in-person clinic follow-up postdischarge for heart failure lowers 30-day readmissions but is often difficult to complete, prompting evaluation of whether early nonphysician telephone visits could serve as an effective alternative.
Does an initial structured nonphysician telephone visit compared with an initial physician clinic visit within 7 days postdischarge reduce 30-day readmission and death in adults hospitalized for heart failure?
Population
2091 adults discharged home after hospitalization for heart failure
Comparison
Initial structured nonphysician telephone visit vs initial in-person primary care physician clinic visit within 7 days postdischarge
Design
Pragmatic randomized trial
Follow-up
30 days
Authors
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Supports structured nonphysician telephone follow-up as a scalable alternative after HF discharge; extends RCT evidence for efficient transitional care models.
RCT (n=2,091)
Does an initial structured nonphysician telephone visit compared with an initial physician clinic visit within 7 days postdischarge reduce 30-day readmission and death in adults hospitalized for heart failure?
Absolute Event Rate: 8.6% vs 10.6%
p-value: p=0.11
Early structured telephone follow-up after heart failure hospitalization increases 7-day follow-up rates and reduces in-person visits without compromising 30-day clinical outcomes compared to in-person physician visits.
Lee et al. (2020) conducted an RCT in Heart failure (n=2,091). Initial structured nonphysician telephone visit vs. Initial in-person clinic appointment with a physician was evaluated on 30-day heart failure readmission (p=0.11). An initial structured nonphysician telephone visit within 7 days of heart failure discharge resulted in comparable 30-day heart failure readmission compared to an in-person clinic visit (8.6% vs 10.6%, P=0.11).
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