Discharge Handoff Communication and Pediatric Readmissions

Abstract

Background: Improvement in hospital transitional care has become a major national priority, although the impact on children's postdischarge outcomes is unclear.

Objective: To characterize common handoff practices between hospital and primary care providers (PCPs), and test the hypothesis that common handoff practices would be associated with fewer unplanned readmissions.

Design, setting, and patients: This prospective cohort study enrolled randomly selected pediatric patients during an acute hospitalization at a tertiary children's hospital in 2012-2014.

Measurements: Primary care and patient data were abstracted from administrative, caregiver, and PCP questionnaires on admission through 30 days postdischarge. The primary outcome was 30-day unplanned readmission to any hospital. Logistic regression assessed relationships between readmissions and 11 handoff communication practices.

Results: We enrolled 701 children, from which 685 identified PCPs. Complete data were collected from 84% of PCPs. Communication practices varied widely--verbal handoffs occurred rarely (10.7%); PCP notification of admission occurred for 50.8%. Caregiver experience scores, using an adapted Care Transitions Measure-3, were high but were unrelated to readmissions. Thirty-day unplanned readmissions to any hospital were unrelated to most handoff practices. Having PCP follow-up appointments scheduled prior to discharge was associated with more readmissions (adjusted odds ratio, 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-4.46).

Conclusion: Despite their presumed value, common handoff practices between hospital providers and PCPs may not lead to reductions in postdischarge utilization for children. Addressing broader constructs like caregiver self-efficacy or social determinants is likely necessary. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2017;12:29-35.