The effect of remote patient monitoring on discharge outcomes in post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a lifesaving procedure for patients with coronary artery disease but ranks highest (13.5%) for preventable hospital readmissions and second highest in average Medicare payment ($8,136) per readmission. Care transitions after hospital discharge warrant exploration to improve outcomes. The purpose of this brief report was to compare the effect of remote patient monitoring (RPM) on 30-day outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries after isolated CABG surgery. Results demonstrated no statistically significant difference in 30-day readmission (p = .568) or emergency department encounters (p = .785) between groups. However, time to achieve a cardiology follow-up appointment decreased from 19.8 to 13.7 days (p = .062) in the RPM group. Although the findings were not statistically significant, this study demonstrated a reduction in CABG readmissions and timely provider follow-up with RPM. In addition, study findings contribute to the body of nursing knowledge and support the need for further studies to identify high-risk CABG patients who may benefit from RPM after hospital discharge.