Comparing automatic vs. as-needed follow-up care for children after hospitalization

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This trial evaluates the effectiveness of automatic follow-up visits versus as-needed (PRN) follow-up for children discharged from the hospital after treatment for common infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections. The study aims to determine if automatic follow-ups reduce hospital readmissions and improve continuity of care, while also considering the potential burdens on families such as missed work and transportation costs. Children under 18 years old who have been hospitalized for specific infections will be randomly assigned to either follow-up approach, with outcomes measured in terms of readmission rates and child health-related quality of life.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age \<18 years at the time of randomization
* Hospitalization due to a primary diagnosis of pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infection, acute gastroenteritis, or urinary tract infection.
* Parent speaks English or Spanish.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of a comorbid disease that is both chronic and complex
* Principal disease required surgical intervention (beyond superficial incision and drainage)
* Immunodeficiency
* A well-child check-up or post-hospitalization follow-up visit is already scheduled within 7 days of hospital discharge
* Parent or participant strongly prefers PRN or automatic follow-up
* A medical provider feels strongly that a post-hospitalization follow-up visit is needed within 7 days of hospital discharge
* Sibling concurrently hospitalized
* Unable to identify a clinic where the participant would receive any needed post-hospitalization follow-up
* Diagnosis of pneumonia complicated by:

  o Receiving a chest tube
* Diagnosis of urinary tract infection complicated by:

  * History of neurogenic bladder or urologic surgery
  * Renal imaging anticipated within 7 days of hospital discharge
  * Renal abscess
* Diagnosis of skin and soft tissue infection complicated by:

  * Chronic wound
  * Postoperative infection
  * Predisposition to poor wound healing
  * Discharging with a drain in place
  * Complicated by necrotizing fasciitis or toxic shock syndrome
* Diagnosis of gastroenteritis complicated by:

  * Hemolytic uremic syndrome

Where it's running

• Phoenix Children's Hospital
  Phoenix, Arizona, United States Recruiting
• Packard at El Camino Hospital
  Mountain View, California, United States Recruiting
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
  Palo Alto, California, United States Recruiting
• St. Louis Children's Hospital
  St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting
• Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center
  Plainsboro, New Jersey, United States Recruiting
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center - Main Campus
  Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Eric Coon, MD — University of Utah
• Study coordinator: Eric Coon, MD, MS
• Email: Eric.Coon@hsc.utah.edu
• Phone: 801-587-2160

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.