The Follow-up Automatically vs. As-Needed Comparison Trial
University of Utah
Summary
Compare the effectiveness of automatic vs as-needed (PRN) post-hospitalization follow-up for children who are hospitalized for common infections.
Description
BACKGROUND: Automatic post-hospitalization follow-up visits are commonly recommended by hospital-based pediatricians. The intuitive appeal of automatic follow-up visits is that they might decrease hospital readmissions and promote continuity of care. However, automatic follow-up visits result in missed work for parents, missed school for children, and expenses like co-pays and transportation costs. The principal alternative strategy to automatic follow-up is PRN (pro re nata, "as-needed") follow-up, a patient and family-centered approach that empowers parents to monitor their child's symptoms…