ABSTRACTS
Does Mobile Integrated Healthcare Reduce 30-Day Hospital Readmissions?Author: Abraham Pritzker MPH, MICP | Paramedic | Atlantic Health System Associate Authors: Pritzker, Abraham, MPH, MICP | Brown, Michael, MD | Colon, Pedro, MD | Laterza, Cosimo, MD | Berkenbush, Michael, MD
Introduction Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) is a healthcare delivery model that deploys EMS professionals to provide non-emergent, in-home care to bridge gaps in access and reduce avoidable healthcare utilization. Atlantic Mobile Health (AMH) operates an MIH program in New Jersey aimed at reducing 30-day hospital readmissions. This study evaluated whether participation in the AMH MIH program was associated with lower 30-day readmission rates. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients referred to the AMH MIH program between January 1 and March 31, 2025. Patients were included if they were referred to the MIH program following hospital discharge and had 30-day outcome data available. Referrals were divided into two cohorts based on whether the patient received at least one MIH home visit. Exclusions included duplicate referrals (n=3) and cases in which the MIH team directly facilitated hospital transport without intervening care (n=1). The primary outcome was 30-day hospital readmission, defined as any inpatient admission within 30 days of the index discharge at any hospital within the health system. Readmission rates were compared between groups using Fisher’s exact test. Additional outcomes included absolute and relative risk reductions, and number needed to treat (NNT). Results Of the 129 referrals eligible for analysis, 125 referrals were included. Among patients who received MIH visits (N=74), 9 (12.1%) had a 30-day readmission. In the group without MIH visits (n=51), 13 (25.5%) were readmitted. This results in an absolute risk reduction of 13.3% for referrals with MIH visits (Fisher exact test p=0.06). The relative risk reduction is 52.3%, and the number needed to treat is 8. Conclusion Participation in this MIH program was associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in 30-day hospital readmissions. Although the results did not reach statistical significance, the observed trend suggests potential patient and system-level benefits. Limitations include the inability to capture readmissions outside the health system and lack of adjustment for time-to-intervention or patient-level covariates. Further research with a larger sample size and multivariable analysis is warranted to confirm findings and explore predictors of MIH impact.
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