Aiming to Improve Readmissions Through InteGrated Hospital Transitions

The purpose of this study is to better enhance transitions of care for the highest risk, complex patients, Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) has designed an Integrated Practice Unit, called Transition Services (CHS-TS).CHS-TS aims to improve patient outcomes through innovative approaches that leverage analytics and technology, while bridging care coordination and communication gaps. During their hospitalization, CHS-TS patients enter into a transition pathway that includes the following key services: integrated access to medical, pharmacist, and specialty providers; access to CHS disease specific management programs; dedicated care management services delivered in home and at the clinic; lab and infusion services; palliative care consultations when appropriate; and paramedicine for 24 hour support. AIRTIGHT (Aiming to Improve Readmissions Through InteGrated Hospital Transitions) is a pragmatic, randomized quality improvement evaluation, which seeks to evaluate the effects of the role-out of CHS-TS services for patients at high risk for a 30-day readmission. AIRTIGHT will test the hypothesis that patients that receive care through CHS-TS will have a lower all cause, 30-day readmission rate than patients that receive usual care.