Evaluation of the impact of comprehensive medication management services delivered posthospitalization on readmissions and emergency department visits.

BACKGROUND

The impact of providing cognitive pharmacy services following hospital discharge has been studied with various results. This study is specifically focused on comprehensive medication management services delivered postdischarge in an interprofessional team environment to patients aged >65 years.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if delivery of comprehensive medication management services postdischarge will prevent hospital readmissions or emergency department visits within 6 months following discharge in patients aged >65 years. Secondary endpoints included 30-day and 60-day postdischarge events.

METHODS

This was a prospective group matched-controlled study of patients aged >65 years with selected diagnoses identified as high risk for readmission. The intervention group received comprehensive medication management that was provided face-to-face in the patient's primary care clinic within 2 weeks of discharge.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found between intervention and control groups in hospital readmissions or emergency department visits at 30 days, 60 days, or 6 months after discharge. No statistically significant difference was seen in mortality between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Provision of comprehensive medication management services did not reduce emergency department visits or readmissions in this study. This study was limited by multiple other changes occurring in the health system during the time of this study that potentially confounded results. In addition, the study may have been too small to detect a difference.