title: Direct Telephonic Communication in a Heart Failure Transitional Care Program: An observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated the trend of phone calls in the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center (BGSMC) Heart Failure Transitional Care Program (HFTCP). The primary goal of the HFTCP is to reduce 30-Day readmissions for heart failure patients by using a multi-pronged approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 104 patients in the HFTCP discharged over a 51-week period who had around-the-clock telephone access to the Transitionalist. Cellular phone records were reviewed. This study evaluated the length and timing of calls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4398 telephone calls were recorded of which 39% were inbound and 61% were outbound. This averaged to 86 calls per week. During the "Weekday Daytime" period, Eighty-five percent of the totals calls were made. There were 229 calls during the "Weekday Nights" period with 1.5 inbound calls per week. The "Total Weekend" calls were 10.2% of the total calls which equated to a weekly average of 8.8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience is that direct, physician-patient telephone contact is feasible with a panel of around 100 HF patients for one provider. If the proper financial reimbursements are provided, physicians may be apt to participate in similar transitional care programs. Likewise, third party payers will benefit from the reduction in unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transitional Care Medicine, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Ken S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Fellowship Program, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Beutler
authors.affiliation: Department of Transitional Care Medicine, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Hassam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Transitional Care Medicine, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Dallin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Transitional Care Medicine, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gerkin
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Fellowship Program, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Akil I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Loli
keywords: Heart failure; Telemonitoring; Telephone; Transitional care; Transitionalist