Long-Term Impact of a Postdischarge Community Health Worker Intervention on Health Care Costs in a Safety-Net System.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Patient navigators (PNs) may represent a cost-effective strategy to improve transitional care and reduce hospital readmissions. We evaluated the impact of a PN intervention on health system costs in the 180 days after discharge for high-risk patients in a safety-net system.

Data source/setting

Primary and secondary data from an academic safety-net health system.

Study design

We compared per-patient utilization and costs, overall and by age, for high-risk, medical service patients randomized to the PN intervention relative to usual care between October 2011 and April 2013. Intervention patients received hospital visits and telephone outreach from PNs for 30 days after every qualifying discharge.

Data collection/extraction methods

We used administrative

SUBMITTER: Galbraith AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5682134 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature