DescriptionPurpose of Project:
This pilot study implemented and evaluated the feasibility of patient navigators, who made a follow-up phone call to psychiatric patients discharged from the emergency department after a crisis within 48 hours of discharge from a New Jersey hospital, on 30 day readmission rates.
Methodology:
Patient navigators were provided with information on how to conduct and document the follow-up.
Results:
A total 322 discharged patients were followed-up between November 2019 and February 2020. Follow-up included help with navigating referrals given, aid in making an appointment and the patient’s need to be re-evaluated if at risk and an assessment of any barriers in the ability to follow discharge plans. The follow-up phone call from a patient navigator in the psychiatric emergency department reduced readmission rates by 14% when compared with a similar period from the previous year.
Implications for Practice:
The results indicated that a follow-up phone call is a feasible intervention that has the potential to reduce thirty day readmission rates.