How did the protocol used in the study reduce readmissions and overall costs?
Advanced practice nurses were assigned to care for these patients as soon as possible after their hospital admissions. With short hospital stays, you have limited opportunities to influence the care of these patients. You need to start working with these patients and their family members early in the hospitalization to design their discharge plans. Nurses made daily visits to identify patients and caregivers goals to address symptom management issues and to coordinate the care of these patients. Often, the advanced practice nurses brought in physical therapists to help prevent functional decline, something that can happen in even short hospital stays. The nurses also consulted with pharmacologists to streamline some patients very complex medication management plans. Whenever needed, the advanced practice nurses sought expertise from health team members during the patients hospitalization. Patients and their families often do not have access to these services after discharge. Nurses wou
