Reducing costs and improving care after hospitalization: Economic evaluation of a novel transitional care clinic.

Abstract

Transitional care management (TCM) is a novel strategy for reducing costs and improving clinical outcomes after hospitalization but remains under-utilized. An economic analysis was performed on a hospital-based transition of care clinic (TCC) open to all patients regardless of payor status. TCC reduced re-hospitalization and emergency department (ED) utilization at six-month follow up. A cost-consequence analysis based on real world data found the TCC intervention to be cost effective relative to usual care. Hospital managers should consider adoption of TCC to improve patient care and reduce costs.