Transitional care programs for trauma patients: A scoping review

Background: Transitional care programs establish comprehensive outpatient care after hospitalization. This scoping review aimed to define participant characteristics and structure of transitional care programs for injured adults as well as associated readmission rates, cost of care, and follow-up adherence. Methods: We conducted a scoping review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews standard. Information sources searched were Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus Plus with Full Text. Eligibility criteria were systematic reviews, clinical trials, and observational studies of transitional care programs for injured adults in the United States, published in English since 2000. Two independent reviewers screened all full texts. A data charting process extracted patient characteristics, program structure, readmission rates, cost of care, and follow-up adherence for each study. Results: A total of 10 studies described 9 transitional care programs. Most programs (60%) were nurse/ social-worker-led post-discharge phone call programs that provided follow-up reminders and inquired regarding patient concerns. The remaining 40% of programs were comprehensive interdisciplinary casecoordination transitional care programs. Readmissions were reduced by 5% and emergency department visits by 13% among participants of both types of programs compared to historic data. Both programs improved follow-up adherence by 75% compared to historic data. Conclusion: Transitional care programs targeted at injured patients vary in structure and may reduce overall health care use.