Dataset Information

Identifying patients with post-discharge care problems using an interactive voice response system.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Adverse events (AEs) are poor outcomes caused by medical care. They occur in 20% of medical patients following hospital discharge. We designed an interactive voice response system (IVRS) with the intent of identifying patients who might be experiencing an AE following discharge or were at risk of developing one.

Objectives

We determined the proportion of post-discharge patients requiring an intervention after identifying potential problems using the IVRS, the relationship between IVRS responses and AE occurrence, and patients' opinions of the IVRS call.

Methods

We studied patients discharged from the general medical service of an academic hospital. The IVRS called patients 2 days post-discharge and asked three questions to determine the need for nurse follow-up. We contacted patients 30 days later to elicit AE status and perceptions of the IVRS.

Results

Our cohort consisted of 270 elderly patients [median 64 years (IQR 50-76)] with multiple co-morbidities. Responses to the IVRS identified 57 patients (21%, 95% CI 17%-27%) for follow-up. When contacted by a nurse, 25 patients (9%, 95% CI 6%-13%) actually required an intervention. At 30-day follow-up, AEs occurred in 33 patients (12%, 95% CI 8%-17%). Only three AEs (9%) were identified by the IVRS; the remainder occurred before or after the IVRS call. Patients remembering the IVRS call found it easy to use (97%), and a minority would prefer a person to call (8%).

Conclusion

An IVRS-based method of monitoring was acceptable to patients and identified a significant proportion requiring changes in management. However, the method identified only a minority of AEs. To have a significant improvement in care, this method will need to be combined with other interventions.

SUBMITTER: Forster AJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2659152 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Identifying patients with post-discharge care problems using an interactive voice response system.

Forster Alan J AJ Boyle Loree L Shojania Kaveh G KG Feasby Thomas E TE van Walraven Carl C

Journal of general internal medicine 20090121 4

<h4>Introduction</h4>Adverse events (AEs) are poor outcomes caused by medical care. They occur in 20% of medical patients following hospital discharge. We designed an interactive voice response system (IVRS) with the intent of identifying patients who might be experiencing an AE following discharge or were at risk of developing one.<h4>Objectives</h4>We determined the proportion of post-discharge patients requiring an intervention after identifying potential problems using the IVRS, the relation ...[more]

PMID: 19156467

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Dataset Information

Identifying patients with post-discharge care problems using an interactive voice response system.

Introduction

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Identifying patients with post-discharge care problems using an interactive voice response system.

Similar Datasets

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