Study: Continuity of inpatient care associated with better outcomes

In a three-year study of Medicare data from hospitals in Texas, patients receiving care from hospitalists whose schedules permitted continuity of care had lower mortality, readmissions and costs 30 days after discharge and were more likely to be discharged directly home, according to a report published online today by JAMA Internal Medicine. “Efforts by hospitals and hospitalist groups to promote working schedules with more continuity could lead to improved post-discharge outcomes in patients receiving hospitalist care,” the authors said.