Reducing Readmission Rates in Adult Patients (18–25 Years) With Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder Through Implementation of Care Coordination Strategy: An Integrative Review

Alcohol and substance use disorders are a major issue in adults ages 18 to 25. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.6 million young adults ages 18 to 25 reported that they drank alcohol in the past month, and 2.4 million young adults ages 18 to 25 reported heavy alcohol use in the past. Over 20 million alcohol use cases were reported in the past year in the United States. Further, 21.6% of patients with drug use disorders were readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of discharge. Adults ages 18 to 25 years who are addicted to alcohol or drugs are susceptible to negative health effects. The likelihood of readmission is increased by several medical and psychological comorbidities related to alcohol and drug use disorders. After being discharged, many of these patients receive little treatment or support, leaving them defenseless. As a result, the healthcare system is burdened since this patient group has higher readmission rates than the overall population. Therefore, the use of a care coordination strategy to reduce readmission rates in adults with alcohol and drug use disorders must be researched and reviewed. Through an integrated review, the project examines the effectiveness of the care coordination strategy in reducing the readmission rate for adults (18–25 years) with alcohol and substance use disorders. Literature findings from 20 articles reviewed showed care coordination strategy reduces readmission rates, improves patient satisfaction, improves patient adherence to treatment, and improves patient quality of life. Findings from this review will benefit healthcare organizations in treating adult (18 – 25 years) patients with alcohol and substance use disorders. The review aided in the identification of the best elements of care coordination techniques- follow-up care and ensuring everyone engaged in a patient\u27s care is in agreement. A care coordination strategy can aid care teams in assessing patients’ social determinants of health and promote communication and collaboration between care teams involved in patient care