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NCT Number: NCT07599852

MEDBRIDGE-Guided NCM/CHW Post-Discharge Support for High-Risk T2D Patients

This study tests whether a support program led by a nurse case manager and community health worker can help patients with type 2 diabetes manage their medications after leaving the hospital. Many patients with diabetes take multiple medications, and changes to these medications during hospital stays can cause confusion and lead to missed doses or incorrect use. This is especially common in communities with limited access to healthcare.

The study uses a computer-based tool called MEDBRIDGE (MEDication BRIDGE) to identify patients who may be at higher risk for problems after discharge, such as worsening blood sugar control or return visits to the emergency department. Patients identified as high-risk will receive 3 months of support from a nurse case manager and community health worker team, who will help with medication questions, coordinate with their doctor, and provide follow-up check-ins.

The main goal is to find out whether this type of support program is practical to deliver and acceptable to patients. The study will also track changes in blood sugar levels and emergency department visits. Forty-five patients will be enrolled over 6 months at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Cooper Green Mercy Health Services in Jefferson County, Alabama.

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Key information

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes Behavior Care Transition Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Health Behavior Medication Adherence Medication Discrepancy Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Compliance Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, Birmingham, Alabama, United States

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About this study

This single-arm feasibility pilot evaluates a MEDBRIDGE-guided nurse case manager (NCM) and community health worker (CHW) post-discharge support intervention for high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). MEDBRIDGE is an AI-driven risk stratification tool that integrates medication data, clinical factors, and social determinants of health from electronic health records to identify patients at elevated risk of HbA1c elevation, diabetes-related emergency department visits, and hospitalizations within 3 months post-discharge.

The intervention follows a four-phase workflow: (1) Risk Assessment, where the NCM reviews the daily MEDBRIDGE-generated high-risk patient list; (2) Initial Patient Contact, where the NCM/CHW team initiates contact after discharge to review medications and identify discrepancies; (3) Ongoing Support, where the CHW provides monthly check-ins to monitor adherence, address barriers, and coordinate with primary care providers; and (4) Transition to Routine Care, where the team facilitates handoff to the patient's primary care provider with a summary of activities and recommendations.

Primary outcomes include feasibility (recruitment rate, retention rate), patient acceptability (Acceptability of Intervention Measure), and intervention fidelity (NCM/CHW contact log adherence). Secondary outcomes include HbA1c change, diabetes-related emergency department visits, and diabetes-related hospitalizations within 3 months post-discharge, analyzed descriptively and compared with non-intervention high-risk patients identified by MEDBRIDGE.

The study is conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital and Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, a county-owned safety-net facility serving predominantly low-income and uninsured residents of Jefferson County, Alabama. The patient population is characterized by higher rates of medication complexity, limited health literacy, and social vulnerability. Approximately 20 UAB hospitalizations involve Cooper Green patients with T2D each month, providing a sufficient recruitment base for the target enrollment of 45 patients over a 6-month recruitment window.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18 years or older
  • Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (HbA1c of 6.5% or higher or relevant ICD-10 codes including E11, E13, E14, R73, L97.509, K31.84)
  • Discharged from UAB Hospital or its emergency departments
  • Receiving primary care at Cooper Green Mercy Health Services or UAB Post Discharge Clinic
  • Identified as high risk by the MEDBRIDGE prediction tool based on elevated risk of HbA1c elevation, diabetes-related emergency department visits, or diabetes-related hospitalizations within 3 months post-discharge

Exclusion criteria

  • Under age 18
  • No indication of type 2 diabetes
  • Not affiliated with Cooper Green Mercy Health Services or UAB Post Discharge Clinic for primary care
  • Unable to provide informed consent
  • Currently enrolled in another post-discharge intervention study

Treatment and study plan

MEDBRIDGE-Guided NCM/CHW Post-Discharge Support Intervention

Behavioral

A 3-month post-discharge care coordination intervention delivered by a nurse case manager (NCM) and community health worker (CHW) team, guided by MEDBRIDGE AI-driven risk stratification. The intervention follows a four-phase workflow: (1) Risk Assessment, where the NCM reviews the daily MEDBRIDGE-generated high-risk patient list; (2) Initial Patient Contact, where the NCM/CHW team initiates contact after discharge to review medications and identify discrepancies; (3) Ongoing Support, where the CHW provides monthly check-ins to monitor adherence, address barriers, and coordinate with primary care providers; and (4) Transition to Routine Care, where the team facilitates handoff to the patient's primary care provider with a summary of activities and recommendations. Participants receive a minimum of 3 contacts over the intervention period.

Primary outcomes

  1. Recruitment Rate

    Time frame: 6-month recruitment window

    Number of patient enrollments per month compared against threshold of 6 enrollments per month. Enrollment rate calculated as the percentage of eligible patients (based on MEDBRIDGE recommendations) who enrolled in the intervention (completed first interaction); target 50% or higher.

  2. Retention Rate

    Time frame: 3 months post-enrollment

    Percentage of enrolled patients completing each round of the intervention (first, second, and up to the final round). Target completion rate of 60% or higher. Estimated 85% retention per subsequent interaction, yielding approximately 61% final retention.

  3. Patient Acceptability

    Time frame: End of 3-month intervention

    Patient scores on the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Target mean score of 4 or higher. Surveys assess comfort with the intervention process and communication with the NCM/CHW team.

  4. Intervention Fidelity

    Time frame: Throughout 3-month intervention

    NCM/CHW self-report logs including interaction start and end timestamps and a checklist of core intervention components performed, compared against adherence threshold of 0.85. Bi-weekly supervision sessions review logs to ensure protocol adherence.

Secondary outcomes

  1. HbA1c Change

    Time frame: 3 months post-discharge

    Continuous variable of HbA1c change calculated for each patient using HbA1c self-check at baseline and 3 months. An indicator variable on whether HbA1c reduction exceeds 0.5% will be created. Values descriptively compared with non-intervention high-risk patients identified by MEDBRIDGE.

  2. Diabetes-Related Emergency Department Visits

    Time frame: 3 months post-discharge

    Count of diabetes-related emergency department visits identified through retrospective EHR data review. Values descriptively compared with non-intervention high-risk patients identified by MEDBRIDGE.

  3. Diabetes-Related Hospitalizations

    Time frame: 3 months post-discharge

    Count of diabetes-related hospitalizations identified through retrospective EHR data review. Values descriptively compared with non-intervention high-risk patients identified by MEDBRIDGE.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Other

Registry information

Official study title

MEDBRIDGE: AI-Driven Risk Stratification and Care Transition Intervention to Improve Diabetes Medication Management

Acronym: MEDBRIDGE

Important dates

Study start
2029
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2031
First posted
May 20, 2026
Registry last updated
May 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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