Readmission Prevention Pilot Trial in Diabetes Patients

A Pilot Trial to Prevent Hospital Readmission of Patients With Diabetes

Post-discharge hospital utilization, i.e., readmissions within 30 days of discharge (30d readmissions) and emergency department (ED) visits, are a high-priority quality measure and target for cost reduction. Patients with diabetes are disproportionately over-represented in 30d readmissions, especially among racial minorities and urban populations. We have developed and validated a tool, the Diabetes Early Readmission Risk Indicator (DERRI), to predict 30d readmission risk among diabetes patients, which is a critical prerequisite for targeting limited resources for reducing readmission risk to those most in need. Currently, there are no proven interventions to reduce the risk of 30d readmission specifically among patients with diabetes. This proposal will assess the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, multifactorial intervention, the Diabetes Transition of Hospital Care Program (DiaTOHC), designed to reduce post-discharge hospital utilization rates in a pilot randomized controlled trial. The intervention will include inpatient diabetes and discharge education, comprehensive discharge planning and coordination of care, A1c-based adjustment of diabetes therapy, and post-discharge support. Hospitalized patients with diabetes identified as high risk for readmission based on the DERRI will be randomized to the intervention or the control group, which will receive usual care. Such work is highly relevant in the current era of soaring health care costs and national health care reform.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diabetes, defined by pre-admission use of a diabetes-specific medication and/or documentation of the diagnosis in the medical record.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age < 18 years at the time of admission
2. Female subjects who are pregnant and/or admitted to an obstetric service
3. Current or expected admission to a critical care unit
4. Binge drinking (5 or more alcoholic drinks for males or 4 or more alcoholic drinks for females on the same day) or drug abuse within 3 months before admission
5. Inpatient death
6. Transfer to another hospital or subacute facility
7. Discharge to hospice or a long-term care facility
8. Discharge expected within 12 hours or admission to a short-stay unit
9. Lack of access to a phone
10. Living more than 30 miles away from Temple University Hospital (TUH)
11. Mental condition rendering the subject unable to understand the nature, scope, and possible consequences of the study