The study reviewed one year of responses to a multi-call follow-up program for 602 congestive heart failure patients discharged from Charleston (W. Va.) Area Medical Center.
In the study, discharged patients received two calls, one within 48 hours of discharge and a second call seven days later. Patients who responded positively to both calls had a readmission rate of 13 percent. Patients who showed a negative trend (for example, responding positively on the first call and neutral or negative on the second call) had a 38 percent risk of readmission.
The researchers concluded an automated follow-up call program may help hospitals better determine interventions to reduce risk of readmissions among congestive heart failure patients.
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