Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine found that offering a telemedicine clinic for high-risk patients resulted in fewer readmissions.

The results of the three-year study, published in the Sept. 23 online edition of JMIR Medical Informatics, showed that the overall 30-day readmission rate for patients seen in the virtual transition of care clinic was 14.9%. That’s compared to 20.1% for the benchmark group.

“Our clinic is a one-time, virtual visit with a patient immediately after their hospital stay to ensure we’re doing all we can to mitigate risk,” said Dr. Sarah Horman, lead author of the study and professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Across the nation, hospital readmissions pose a significant burden on patients, health care providers and medical syst

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