Scheduling Outpatient Follow-up Reduces Readmission Rates in Pediatric Neurology

Providing pediatric neurology patients with an outpatient follow-up appointment at the time of hospital discharge reduces 30-day hospital readmission rates, according to results from a process improvement project presented at the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) annual meeting, held from June 17 to 22, 2025, in San Diego, California.

Nurse practitioners (NPs), led by Michelle Q. Perez, DNP, APRN, sought to improve the discharge process for pediatric neurology patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida.

In an initial literature review, the study authors aimed to understand what strategies can improve 30-day readmission rates and continuity of care outcome measures for pediatric neurology patients after hospital discharge. In a second literature review, they narrowed their examination to assess whether providing a patient with an outpatient follow-up appointment at discharge would improve 30-day readmission rates and continuity of care outcome measures.

During the study period, 796 pediatric neurology patients were discharged from the hospital; 327 of these patients were discharged prior to implementation. Of these 327 patients, 253 had an outpatient follow-up appointment scheduled at discharge and 74 did not.

There were 469 patients discharged post-implementation; 458 left with an outpatient follow-up appointment scheduled, and 11 did not have an outpatient follow-up appointment scheduled at discharge.

Readmission rates improved post-implementation by 6% overall. Patients in the pre-implementation group had a 10.7% (35 of 327) readmission rate, whereas patients in the post-implementation group had a 5.3% (25 of 469) readmission rate.

The outpatient follow-up appointment scheduling rate improved by 21%, and time to completion for follow-up appointments decreased from 41 days pre-implementation to 31 days post-implementation.

Pre-implementation, 218 of 253 (86.2%) patients with a follow-up appointment adhered to their scheduled time. Post implementation, 425 of 458 (92.8%) patients with a follow-up appointment adhered to their appointment.

The study authors noted that, with the discharge process and transitional care management, patient satisfaction improved post-implementation.

Dr Perez was joined by faculty mentor Melanie Michael, DNP, FNP-C, CPHQ, FNAP.

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This article originally appeared on Clinical Advisor