The results of the study observed 33 patient discharges with a patient median age of 63 42% identified as White, 45% were female, and 18% had a preferred language of Spanish. Thirty patients were discharged with at least 1 medication change. Of these patients, 27% received no verbal instruction on the change, while 53% were informed but not told the purpose of the changes. About half of the patients were not told the reason for follow-up appointments, and 55% were not given instructions on posthospital disease self-management. Most patients 81% did not receive guidance on red-flag signs. While 58% were asked if they had any questions, only 1 patient was asked to teach back his understanding of the discharge plan. Median total time spent with patients on the day of discharge by interns was 4 minutes, senior residents 1 minute, attending physicians 3 minutes, and nurses was 22.5 minutes. Most of the time was spent discussing logistics rather than discharge education.
With this in mind IMPAC is partnering with local Home Health Agencies to help with the post-acute discharge transition of care. The average appointment is 30 minutes and is patient centric, proactive and preventative. Discharge education is provided and guidance on red flag signs for their disease(s). IMPAC’s focus is to align best practice, prevention and the coordination of care. Patients are given a phone number to contact an IMPAC physician in efforts to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits post discharge from acute and post-acute care environments.
