Int J Clin Pediatr

International Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, ISSN 1927-1255 print, 1927-1263 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Int J Clin Pediatr and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://ijcp.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 14, Number 2, October 2025, pages 44-50

Effect of Pediatric Hospitalist-Run Post-Discharge Care Clinic on Hospital Efficiency

↓ **Table 1.** PDCC and Control Clinic Patient Demographics
	PDCC, N = 57 (% of total)	Control, N = 62 (% of total)
Demographics of the patient population (N = 57 and N = 62). Medians are presented with associated interquartile ranges when reporting age, and categorical variables are reported as percentages. ICU: intensive care unit; PCP: primary care physician; PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.
Patient age (months)	2.0 (1.0 - 6.0)	3.0 (1.0 - 19.0)
Sex
Male	32 (56%)	32 (52%)
Female	25 (44%)	30 (49%)
Race
Asian	2 (4%)	1 (2%)
Black or African American	2 (4%)	8 (13%)
Other	9 (16%)	15 (24%)
Two or more races	6 (11%)	3 (5%)
White	38 (67%)	35 (56%)
Language
English	51 (90%)	60 (97%)
Spanish	4 (7%)	0 (0%)
Other	2 (4%)	2 (3%)
PCP present
Yes	54 (95%)	53 (86%)
No	3 (5%)	9 (15%)
ICU admission
Yes	10 (18%)	26 (42%)
No	47 (83%)	34 (55%)
Swallow study done
Yes	23 (40%)	27 (44%)
No	34 (60%)	35 (57%)
Swallow aspiration
Yes	19 (33%)	19 (31%)
No	4 (7%)	8 (13%)

↓ Table 1. PDCC and Control Clinic Patient Demographics

PDCC, N = 57 (% of total)

Control, N = 62 (% of total)

Demographics of the patient population (N = 57 and N = 62). Medians are presented with associated interquartile ranges when reporting age, and categorical variables are reported as percentages. ICU: intensive care unit; PCP: primary care physician; PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.

Patient age (months)

2.0 (1.0 - 6.0)

3.0 (1.0 - 19.0)

Sex

Male

32 (56%)

32 (52%)

Female

25 (44%)

30 (49%)

Race

Asian

2 (4%)

1 (2%)

Black or African American

2 (4%)

8 (13%)

Other

9 (16%)

15 (24%)

Two or more races

6 (11%)

3 (5%)

White

38 (67%)

35 (56%)

Language

English

51 (90%)

60 (97%)

Spanish

4 (7%)

0 (0%)

Other

2 (4%)

2 (3%)

PCP present

Yes

54 (95%)

53 (86%)

3 (5%)

9 (15%)

ICU admission

Yes

10 (18%)

26 (42%)

47 (83%)

34 (55%)

Swallow study done

Yes

23 (40%)

27 (44%)

34 (60%)

35 (57%)

Swallow aspiration

Yes

19 (33%)

19 (31%)

4 (7%)

8 (13%)

↓ **Table 2.** Estimated Healthcare System Savings (Full Oral Feeds)
	Control	PDCC (full oral feeds)	P-value
United States dollars estimated to be saved via patients that achieved full oral feeds and after PDCC implementation and utilization. The controls were all full oral feeds and therefore, the PDCC sample selected (N = 26) were also those that achieved full oral feeds. PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.
Total cost savings ($)			0.002
N	62	26
Median	5,435.10	24,813.80
Interquartile range	268.50 - 39,896.90	10,873.50 - 57,181.70
Range	0.00 - 321,087.30	1,749.60 - 476,743.30

↓ Table 2. Estimated Healthcare System Savings (Full Oral Feeds)

Control

PDCC (full oral feeds)

P-value

United States dollars estimated to be saved via patients that achieved full oral feeds and after PDCC implementation and utilization. The controls were all full oral feeds and therefore, the PDCC sample selected (N = 26) were also those that achieved full oral feeds. PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.

Total cost savings ($)

0.002

Median

5,435.10

24,813.80

Interquartile range

268.50 - 39,896.90

10,873.50 - 57,181.70

Range

0.00 - 321,087.30

1,749.60 - 476,743.30

↓ **Table 3.** Estimated Healthcare System Savings (PDCC Group)
	N (56)	Median (interquartile range)
United States dollars estimated to be saved via patients that achieved full oral feeds relative to those who did not after PDCC implementation and utilization. *One patient was excluded due to being lost to follow-up prior to their PDCC appointment. PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.
Total savings - PDCC oral feeds	26	$24,813.80 ($10,873.50 - $57,181.70)
Total savings - PDCC total	56*	$7,424.40 ($3,335.30 - $16,725.50)

↓ Table 3. Estimated Healthcare System Savings (PDCC Group)

N (56)

Median (interquartile range)

United States dollars estimated to be saved via patients that achieved full oral feeds relative to those who did not after PDCC implementation and utilization. *One patient was excluded due to being lost to follow-up prior to their PDCC appointment. PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.

Total savings - PDCC oral feeds

$24,813.80 ($10,873.50 - $57,181.70)

Total savings - PDCC total

56*

$7,424.40 ($3,335.30 - $16,725.50)

↓ **Table 4.** PDCC Clinical Outcomes
	PDCC, N = 57 (%)	Control, N = 62(%)	P value
Percentage of patients who returned to the hospital within 30 days after originally being discharged, reported as percentages out of the entire sample population. ED: emergency department; PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.
ED visits post-discharge			0.937
No	41 (71.9%)	45 (72.6%)
Yes	16 (28.1%)	17 (27.4%)
Readmissions post-discharge			0.644
No	44 (77.2%)	50 (80.6%)
Yes	13 (22.8%)	12 (19.4%)

↓ Table 4. PDCC Clinical Outcomes

PDCC, N = 57 (%)

Control, N = 62(%)

P value

Percentage of patients who returned to the hospital within 30 days after originally being discharged, reported as percentages out of the entire sample population. ED: emergency department; PDCC: post-discharge care clinic.

ED visits post-discharge

0.937

41 (71.9%)

45 (72.6%)

Yes

16 (28.1%)

17 (27.4%)

Readmissions post-discharge

0.644

44 (77.2%)

50 (80.6%)

Yes

13 (22.8%)

12 (19.4%)