Pharmacist-led discharge program helps reduce readmissions by 46%

When Marion (Indiana) General Hospital sold its pharmacy to Walgreen’s in 2007, neither entity could have predicted the results of the sale, which eventually led to an impressive reduction of preventable readmissions, according to HealthLeaders Media.

After the sale, the WellTransitions discharge program began. Walgreen’s works with hospital staff on medication reconciliation, education, prescription fulfillment, and follow-up for soon-to-be discharged patients. An April 2014 study examined 744 matched pairs of WellTransitions patients and non-patients and found that program patients were 46% likely to experience an unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days than the non-program patients.

Read the HealthLeaders Media article here.