Virtual Patient-PCP-Hospitalist Care Transition Meeting before Hospital Discharge

Abstract

Importance: The fragmented health care system presents significant challenges to promoting trust with hospitalized patients. Objective: To test the feasibility and perceptions of a digital connection tool for communication among patients, hospitalists, and primary care practitioners (PCPs). Design, Setting, and Participants: This quality improvement study was conducted as a feasibility pilot study from September 2022 to June 2023 on medical floors across 3 hospitals. Participants included adult inpatients, the hospitalists who managed their care, and the patients' PCPs. Data were analyzed from September 2023 to April 2025. Exposure: Structured, video-mediated interaction among the patient, family caregiver (if available), hospitalist, and PCP, conducted before discharge. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes of interest were patient perceptions, assessed using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure. Open-ended question sought patients' feedback. Hospitalists' and PCPs' perceptions were evaluated using Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM) surveys. Results: The study sample included 106 participants (mean [SD] age, 63.2 [14.9] years; 55 [51.9%] male). Bedside video meetings were a mean (SD) of 8 (2.8) minutes. Overall score for CARE questions showed a significant improvement, increasing from 40.9 (95% CI, 39.5-42.2) to 47.5 (95% CI, 46.5-48.5) (P