Reconsidering risk: instrumental social support and 30-day utilization after discharge.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In alignment with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements, hospitals increasingly screen for health-related social needs (HRSNs) such as housing, food, and transportation. However, these protocols often exclude instrumental social support-help with tasks like managing medications or attending appointments-which may influence post-discharge outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed social risk data from 5 medical-surgical units at a US quaternary academic medical center. Among 413 inpatients (mean age 48.9 years; 52.1% male; 85.5% non-Hispanic White), we examined whether patient-reported instrumental social support and unmet HRSNs were associated with 30-day emergency department (ED) visits or rehospitalizations. Models were adjusted for LACE scores, a

SUBMITTER: Wallace AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12508796 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature