TY - JOUR
T1 - Patient experiences after hospitalizations for elective surgery
AU - Hinami, Keiki
AU - Bilimoria, Karl Y.
AU - Kallas, Peter G.
AU - Simons, Yael M.
AU - Christensen, Nicholas P.
AU - Williams, Mark V.
N1 - Funding Information:
Dr Hinami and Ms Simons were funded by the Society of Hospital Medicine Young Investigator Award.
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - BACKGROUND: Little is known from patients' perspective about the quality of postdischarge care and the causes of rehospitalization after elective surgery. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted. RESULTS: Of 400 patient participants, 374 completed the 30-day follow-up questionnaire (completion rate, 94%). Half of all unplanned rehospitalizations (experienced by 13% of patients) and nonrehospitalization emergency department visits (experienced by 6%) occurred within 10 days of discharge. Patients used emergency departments and were rehospitalized at facilities near their homes (mean distance traveled, 12.1 mi). The most common primary reason for rehospitalization was postoperative complications, according to patient report, clinical records, and administrative data. Poor perceived care coordination was associated with higher readmission risk. CONCLUSIONS: Patients perceive surgical complications as dominating the reasons for rehospitalizations after elective surgery. Strategies to improve care quality around elective surgery at referral centers should target the discharge process and the coordinated management of postoperative complications through care received at regional hospitals.
AB - BACKGROUND: Little is known from patients' perspective about the quality of postdischarge care and the causes of rehospitalization after elective surgery. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted. RESULTS: Of 400 patient participants, 374 completed the 30-day follow-up questionnaire (completion rate, 94%). Half of all unplanned rehospitalizations (experienced by 13% of patients) and nonrehospitalization emergency department visits (experienced by 6%) occurred within 10 days of discharge. Patients used emergency departments and were rehospitalized at facilities near their homes (mean distance traveled, 12.1 mi). The most common primary reason for rehospitalization was postoperative complications, according to patient report, clinical records, and administrative data. Poor perceived care coordination was associated with higher readmission risk. CONCLUSIONS: Patients perceive surgical complications as dominating the reasons for rehospitalizations after elective surgery. Strategies to improve care quality around elective surgery at referral centers should target the discharge process and the coordinated management of postoperative complications through care received at regional hospitals.
KW - Care coordination
KW - Patient-centered outcomes
KW - Rehospitalization
KW - Surgical complications
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84901801026&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.04.014
DO - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.04.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 24139552
AN - SCOPUS:84901801026
SN - 0002-9610
VL - 207
SP - 855
EP - 862
JO - American journal of surgery
JF - American journal of surgery
IS - 6
ER -