BACKGROUND
Postdischarge follow‐up visits (PDFVs) are widely recommended to improve inpatient‐outpatient transitions of care.
OBJECTIVE
To measure PDFV attendance rates.
DESIGN
Observational cohort study.
SETTING
Medical units at an academic quaternary‐care hospital and its affiliated outpatient clinics.
PATIENTS
Adult patients hospitalized between April 2014 and March 2015 for whom at least 1 PDFV with our health system was scheduled. Exclusion criteria included nonprovider visits, visits cancelled before discharge, nonaccepted health insurance, and visits scheduled for deceased patients.
MEASUREMENTS
The study outcome was the incidence of PDFVs resulting in no‐shows or same‐day cancellations (NS/SDCs).
RESULTS
Of all hospitalizations, 6136 (52%) with 9258 PD‐FVs were analyzed. Twenty‐five percent of PDFVs were NS/SDCs, 23% were cancelled before the visit, and 52% were attended as scheduled. In multivariable regression models, NS/SDC risk factors included black race (odds ratio [OR] 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63‐2.32), longer lengths of stay (hospitalizations ≥15 days: OR 1.51, 95% CI, 1.22‐1.88), and discharge to facility (OR 2.10, 95% CI, 1.70‐2.60). Conversely, NS/SDC visits were less likely with advancing age (age ≥65 years: OR 0.39, 95% CI, 0.31‐0.49) and driving distance (highest quartile: OR 0.65, 95% CI, 0.52‐0.81). Primary care visits had higher NS/SDC rates (OR 2.62, 95% CI, 2.03‐3.38) than oncologic visits. The time interval between discharge and PDFV was not associated with NS/SDC rates.
CONCLUSIONS
PDFVs were scheduled for more than half of hospitalizations, but 25% resulted in NS/SDCs. New strategies are needed to improve PDFV attendance.