Postdischarge outcome rates influenced by comorbidity and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between health care professionals' ratings of their discharge planning collaboration and other patient characteristics with rates of postdischarge outcomes experienced by a sample of elderly veterans. The significant influence of interdisciplinary collaboration levels and comorbidity was demonstrated on emergency room visits and postdischarge fall rates. The author discusses several complex methodological issues for future studies on the relationship between programmatic and patient characteristics and cross-sector patient outcomes.