Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42168970›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2026

If you build it, will they come? A mixed-method formative evaluation of the start-up of a post-discharge clinic to improve care transitions.

Seung-Yup Lee, Reid M Eagleson, Larry R Hearld, Madeline J Gibson, Kristine R Hearld, Allyson G Hall, Greer A Burkholder, Jacob McMahon, Shoaib Y Mahmood, Corey T Spraberry and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Seung-Yup LeeDepartment of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. slee9@uab.edu.
Reid M EaglesonCenter for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Larry R HearldDepartment of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Madeline J GibsonCenter for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Kristine R HearldDepartment of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Allyson G HallDepartment of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Greer A BurkholderDepartment of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Jacob McMahonCollege of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Shoaib Y MahmoodUAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Corey T SpraberryUAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Thalia J BakerUAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Alison R GarretsonUAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Heather M BradleyCooper Green Mercy Health Services, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Michael J MugaveroCenter for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe transition from hospital care to post-discharge follow-up is pivotal for patient health and healthcare system efficiency. While Post Discharge Clinics (PDCs) are designed to facilitate this transition, these new ventures can face challenges, such as patient adherence to appointments. Formative evaluations can provide guidelines for their effective implementation.

methodsA mixed-method formative evaluation was conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System (UABHS)'s PDC to evaluate the first 12 months of operation. The study combined quantitative analysis of patient characteristics, appointment status, and comorbidities with qualitative interviews of PDC staff to assess operational performance and identify areas for improvement.

resultsThe quantitative analysis reported results on 2,168 PDC appointments during the study period. About half of the referred patients attended their appointment (52.1%), while the rest either cancelled (24.0%) or did not show up (23.3%). Statistically significant associations were found between patient demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors (e.g., marital status, insurance type, comorbidities) and adherence to appointments. The qualitative findings with PDC staff highlighted perceived benefits of the clinic, challenges in patient engagement, and the need for dedicated resources, such as social workers and specialists to optimize potential benefits.

conclusionsThe initial operation of the UAB PDC indicates the potential effectiveness of such clinics in improving transitional care. However, addressing barriers to patient adherence, particularly for socially vulnerable groups, and enhancing resource allocation based on stakeholder engagement are critical for the success and scalability of PDCs.

Indexed as

Continuity of Patient CarePatient DischargePatient TransferQuality ImprovementAdultAgedAlabamaAppointments and SchedulesFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPatient ComplianceCare transitionsMixed-methodsPatient engagementPost-discharge careStakeholder engagement

Identifiers

PMID42168970
PMCPMC13483755

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.