Publication details
Postdischarge telephone follow-up among chronic disease patients discharged from a vascular surgery service: a best practice implementation project
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | JBI EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://journals.lww.com/ijebh/fulltext/2023/12001/postdischarge_telephone_follow_up_among_chronic.3.aspx |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/XEB.0000000000000380 |
| Keywords | chronic disease; evidence implementation; patient discharge; telephone follow-up; vascular disease |
| Description | Objectives:To improve postdischarge telephone follow-up in the context of chronic disease management (peripheral artery disease), in a vascular surgery service.Introduction:Patients with chronic diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, present a higher risk of complications and greater constraints regarding their adherence to treatment, leading to an increasing mortality rate and decreased functional capacity. Comprehensive discharge planning plus postdischarge telephone follow-up may reduce 30-day re-hospitalization rates.Methods:The project used the JBI audit and feedback methodological approach to implement the best available evidence into practice. Two audit criteria were used: existence of comprehensive discharge planning and timely telephone follow-up. A baseline audit was conducted, followed by analysis of barriers, which led to the implementation of several strategies, namely, a targeted training program, the development of educational resources and standardized procedures for the discharge process, and postdischarge telephone follow-up.Results:Results from the baseline and first follow-up audits showed improvement for both criteria. Compliance for criterion 1 (comprehensive discharge planning, including postdischarge telephone follow-up) increased from 0% to 40.7%, and for criterion 2 (patient is followed up by telephone within 2 weeks of discharge) increased from 0% to 44.4%. These two criteria sustained improvements in the second follow-up audit: compliance increased to 45% (criterion 1) and 60% (criterion 2).Conclusions:This implementation project contributed to the optimization of the chronic disease management, including improved compliance with discharge planning and early postdischarge telephone follow-up. |