Importance of short-term continuing care plan adherence on long-term outcomes among patients discharged from residential substance use treatment

ABSTRACTBackground: Patients adherent to their recommended treatment regimen demonstrate favorable outcomes. However, it is unclear whether there are specific short-term continuing care performance variables indicative of better long-term prognosis. Objective: This study determined the impact of attendance at an outpatient appointment within 7 days post-discharge from residential treatment on 12-month outcomes. Method: Data were abstracted from electronic medical records for 275 patients (58.9% male) discharged from a single residential treatment program. All discharge plans included a 7-day outpatient appointment with a provider in their home community. Patients were dichotomized based on their attendance at the initial appointment to yield a re-engagement variable. Twelve-month outcomes included past 30-day and continuous abstinence rates, quality of life, and long-term adherence to continuing care plans. Results: Patients attending their initial outpatient appointment within 7 days of discharge evidenc...