January marks the launch of a comprehensive post-acute care strategy to reduce readmissions at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. A crucial piece will be the Transitional Care Clinic in the Cordes Outpatient Pavilion for patients that had a severity index of 3 or 4 while hospitalized. Staffed with a hospitalist, registered nurse and medical assistant, the clinic will be open weekdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Services offered by the Transitional Care Clinic will include a post-discharge call from an RN within two business days, physician visit within seven to 14 days based on acuity, and ongoing monitoring within a 30-day period. The scope of care will include a number of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

The purpose of the Transitional Care Clinic is to reduce readmission rates and increase continuity of care. It will assist with facilitating appropriate post-acute transfer to the patient’s primary care physician, specialist, home health agency or skilled nursing facility.