In:
Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 7, No. suppl_1 ( 2014-07)
Abstract:
Purpose and Background: Bridging the Discharge Gap Effectively (BRIDGE) is an NP-driven transitional care program for cardiovascular patients. It has demonstrated lower rates of readmission for patients with acute coronary syndrome who participated, but a similar benefit was not seen for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. We sought to assess differences between AF patients who participated in the BRIDGE program and those who did not. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients referred to BRIDGE with a primary discharge diagnosis of AF was conducted (n=148). An equal number of BRIDGE attendees was randomly matched to non-attendees (n=36). Univariate techniques were used to compare groups. Results: Of 148 AF patients referred to BRIDGE, 84 (56.8%) attended BRIDGE, 36 (24.3%) saw cardiologists or PCPs for their first post-discharge follow-up, and 28 (18.9%) saw other providers or had unknown follow up. There was no significant difference in median time to follow up (12.5 days for attendees vs 9.0 days for non-attendees, p=0.503). Of the 72 patients reviewed, 17 (23.6%) were readmitted within 30 days (Table 1). Non-attendees were more likely (85.7% vs 40% p=0.134) to be readmitted with AF/related diagnoses as compared to attendees. More than half of 30-day readmissions for BRIDGE attendees were unrelated to AF (n=6, 60.0%). There was a trend toward greater incidence of comorbid CAD, HTN, CHF, or vascular disease among BRIDGE attendees, compared to non-attendees. Conclusion: Readmission patterns vary in AF patients; comorbid conditions play a role in early 30-day readmissions for AF patients despite adequate transitional care. NP-driven transitional care models, compared to traditional follow-up with a physician provider, may help identify additional issues related to comorbidities, leading to readmission. A larger sample is needed to better understand this dichotomy and to determine what measures can be taken to enhance the BRIDGE program for AF patients.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1941-7713
,
1941-7705
DOI:
10.1161/circoutcomes.7.suppl_1.339
Language:
English
Publisher:
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2453882-6
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