Evaluation of a Hospital Discharge Clinic to Improve Care Coordination and Reduce Rehospitalization in Low Income Adults

This randomized controlled trial examines the effects of a transitional care clinic for high-risk patients at an academic medical center who had no trusted medical home. The trial will provide the first reliable evaluation of the Northwestern Transitional Care Clinic / Follow Up Clinic's (NFC) impact on re-admissions, care coordination, and costs. This research will allow us to assess the value of the NFC and similar models of care for providing a more coordinated care approach that results in better treatment outcomes for urban poor populations. It is hypothesized that NFC patients will have fewer 90-day re-hospitalizations and are more likely to have a usual source of primary care 6 months after discharge.