Study: Community-based organizations do not impact patient hospitalization

Connecting patients with community-based organization often has little impact on the frequency with which a patient is seen in the emergency department (ED) or hospitalized, according to a study released January 4 by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Community-based organizations were defined in the study as organizations that connect the public with resources such as jobs, housing, or food, as well as with basic healthcare needs. Researchers analyzed patients who lived near a community-based organization in Baltimore and took advantage of its resources compared to those who lived near such an organization in Baltimore and did not take advantage of its resources. Researchers sought to determine how involvement with the organization impacted patients.

After a year-long study, researchers found little differences between the two groups. Involvement with a community-based organization did not appear to impact the frequency with which patients visited emergency rooms or the length of stay for patients admitted to hospital. There was also no difference in the frequency with which the two patient groups were told about community-based organization services while receiving treatment at a hospital or medical practice. Healthcare employees referring patients to community-based organizations reported few barriers.

The study concluded that teaching staff members to refer patients to community-based organizations could increase the actual number of referrals, although it may not change the ways in which patients who are or are not involved in community-based organizations opt to use ED and hospital services.