New research establishes importance of specialty care after discharge for an MI.
While numerous studies have focused on what type of care is optimal for MI patients while hospitalized, little focus has been paid to what happens after discharge. New research shows that patients who continue to see a cardiologist in the early months after discharge have better outcomes than those who do not. Further, this research raises some disturbing questions about why certain groups of patients are less likely to receive this specialty care than others.
D000359:Aftercare / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D002309:Cardiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014481:United States