Key result
A post-acute transitional care program including physical therapists was associated with a 16% decrease in re-hospitalization for home care patients with heart failure.
Why the study?
Does a post-acute transitional care program including physical therapists reduce re-hospitalization rates in home care patients with heart failure?
Observational (n=462)
Does a post-acute transitional care program including physical therapists reduce re-hospitalization rates in home care patients with heart failure?
Effect estimate: 16% decrease
Integrating physical therapists into post-acute transitional care programs for heart failure patients may effectively reduce re-hospitalization rates.
May support PT integration in HF transitional care; leaves open need for RCTs to confirm benefit.
Up to 25% of patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF) are re-admitted within 30 days. The highest risk of re-admission is within the first days after discharge. Transitional care programs usually only involve nurses and physicians. The purpose of this study was to describe a post–acute care program including physical therapists and to evaluate re-admission rates following program implementation. The program provided HF-specific training encouraging nurses and physical therapists to assess HF status and instruct on self-monitoring. Thresholds for communication with medical providers were established. Patient groups before ( n = 162) and after implementation ( n = 300) were similar. Following implementation, there was a 16% decrease in re-hospitalization with little change in the number of visits. Similar multidisciplinary programs may impact re-hospitalization rates and health care costs for HF.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Miller et al. (2016) conducted an observational in Heart failure (n=462). Post-acute transitional care program including physical therapists vs. Before program implementation was evaluated on Re-hospitalization (16% decrease). A post-acute transitional care program including physical therapists was associated with a 16% decrease in re-hospitalization for home care patients with heart failure.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: