Abstract Body: Background: Post-discharge phone calls to stroke patients are a valuable tool to assess medication compliance, stroke education retention and prevention of emergency room visits. However, there is no optimal time frame defined by The Joint Commission for post-discharge follow-up calls. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is an optimal time frame to call patients and whether call fatigue affects call completion rate.

Methods: Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients discharged to home with and without home health from 2/2024 to 6/2024 were included. Participants received phone calls from a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse at 7 days (Group 1), 14 days (Group 2), and 21 days (Group 3) post-discharge. Two call attempts were made. Data collected included baseline demographics, call completion rates, stroke education and validation of knowledge retention. Call fatigue was assessed by capturing the number of times patient was contacted after discharge by health care team. Patients received a Knowledge Score of 0-6 based on recall of knowledge of diagnosis, stroke type, signs and symptoms of stroke, risk factors, medication knowledge and stroke prevention. R *** was used for data analysis.

Results: 178 patients were called, 64 (36%) Group 1, 61 (34%) Group 2, 53 (30%) Group 3. There were no differences in baseline demographics. 74% (131) of patients were reached successfully. There were no differences in completion among each group (49 {75%} Group 1, 42 {69%} Group 2, 40 {75%} Group 3) p=0.6 despite more calls being made by healthcare team members early on (7.09±4.55 in Group 1, 4.12±3.27 in Group 2, 3±2.89 in Group 3). There were no differences in Knowledge Score regardless of time phone call was made. Patients who were discharged home with home health had better Knowledge Score than those discharged home without home health (5.87(±0.61) vs 5.48(±1.36)) p=0.03.

Conclusion: Implementing a post-discharge phone call program up to 21 days is feasible. There was no difference in call completion rates and retention of stroke knowledge despite a heavier call burden earlier on suggesting no call fatigue.