Factors Associated With Outpatient Visit Attendance After Discharge From Inpatient Psychiatric Units in a New York City Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: A class action lawsuit in New York (Koskinas v. Cuomo) established the right of psychiatric inpatients to receive discharge planning, including arranging outpatient treatment. The attendance rate of the initial outpatient appointment after discharge from inpatient treatment in one city hospital was examined to determine whether rates varied by inpatient unit type.

METHODS: The authors performed retrospective chart review of 1,884 discharges to outpatient care. Multivariate regression models were used to examine the odds of attending the initial appointment.

RESULTS: Eighty-four percent of patients attended the initial appointment. Higher odds of attendance were associated with case management, living in a shelter or being homeless, general medical comorbidity, and inpatient treatment in a co-occurring disorders unit. Lower odds were associated with being non-Latino black. Inpatient treatment in a Latino unit had no significant effect.

CONCLUSIONS: Hospital characteristics, patient population, and availability of local outpatient services may influence continuity of care.