Evaluation of Psychiatric Rehospitalization of Individuals Treated at a Federally Qualified Health Center.

At a federally qualified health center which often receives discharge referrals from the local hospital, rehospitalization rates and reasons were unknown yet pertinent information for assuring timely follow-up appointments. This study examined psychiatric discharge and rehospitalization between August 2020 and January 2021. Between August and October 2020, all adult patients of the FQHC were investigated who presented to or were discharged from the hospital. Those who received a primary psychiatric diagnosis were then examined retrospectively (between November 2020 and January 2021) to determine readmission status. During the study period, 36 patients were hospitalized with primary psychiatric diagnoses, 81% of whom did not establish behavioral health care subsequent to their initial hospitalization. The overall 90-day readmission rate of the sample was 41.7% with 80% of these individuals returning within 30 days.