Social Work Interventions Reduce Readmission Rates By Half

Patients receiving a social work intervention to assess medication questions after being discharged from a hospital had a seven percent hospital readmission rate, compared to a 15% readmission rate for patients in a control group who were discharged during the same period and met the same criteria. The social work intervention consisted of a home visit to recently discharged patients to assess medication adherence and to assess the home environment for fall or injury risks. The social workers also asked about medication side effects and encouraged the patient to make and keep follow-up appointments with their primary care physicians . . .