The effect of frontloading visits on patient outcomes

Abstract

Frontloading, providing 60% of planned visits in the first 2 weeks of the home healthcare episode, was tested in two groups of patients: insulin-dependent patients with diabetes and patients with a primary diagnosis of heart failure. Frontloading was effective for patients with heart failure, decreasing rehospitalization by more than half (39.4-16%), with fewer visits (15.5 vs. 9.5) and equal clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. There were no significant differences in outcomes for patients with diabetes.