An inpatient treatment and discharge planning protocol for alcohol dependence: efficacy in reducing 30-day readmissions and emergency department visits.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol dependence results in multiple hospital readmissions, but no discharge planning protocol has been studied to improve outcomes. The inpatient setting is a frequently missed opportunity to discuss treatment of alcohol dependence and initiate medication-assisted treatment, which is effective yet rarely utilized.

Aim

Our aim was to implement and evaluate a discharge planning protocol for patients admitted with alcohol dependence.

Setting

The study took place at the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), a university-affiliated, large urban county hospital.

Participants

Learner participants included Internal Medicine residents at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) who staff the teaching service at SFGH. Patient participants include

SUBMITTER: Wei J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4351284 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature