Home visits by PA reduces readmissions after cardiac surgery

Editor's Note

Two home visits by a physician assistant (PA) in the week after discharge significantly reduced the chance that a cardiac surgery patient would be readmitted, finds this study presented January 26 at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Of 1,185 patients analyzed, those who received PA visits on days 2 and 5 after discharge had a significantly lower rate of readmission (10%) compared with those who did not receive home visits (17%), for a 41% reduction in readmissions.

The analysis also found an overall reduction in healthcare expenditures—it cost $23,500 to make house calls to 363 patients, which saved $977,500 in readmission costs.

Phoenix (January 26, 2016) - Two home visits by a physician assistant (PA) during the week after hospital discharge significantly reduces the chance that a heart surgery patient will be readmitted, and reduces overall costs associated with the heart surgery, according to a scientific presentation at the 52nd Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.