IntroductionHospital readmission is a burden to patients, relatives and society. Older patients with frailty are at highest risk of readmission and its negative outcomes.ObjectiveWe aimed at examining whether follow-up visits by an outgoing multidisciplinary geriatric team (OGT) reduces unplanned hospital readmission in patients discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF).DesignA retrospective single-centre before-and-after cohort study.Setting and participantsStudy population included all hospitalised patients discharged from a Danish geriatric department to an SNF during 1 January 2016–25 February 2020. To address potential changes in discharge and readmission patterns during the study period, patients discharged from the same geriatric department to own home were also assessed.InterventionOGT visits at SNF within 7 days following discharge. Patients discharged to SNF before 12 March 2018 did not receive OGT (−OGT). Patients discharged to SNF on or after 12 March 2018 received the intervention (+OGT).Main outcome measuresUnplanned hospital readmission between 4 hours and 30 days following initial discharge.ResultsTotally 847 patients were included (440 −OGT; 407 +OGT). No differences were seen between the two groups regarding age, sex, activities of daily living (ADLs), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) or 30-day mortality. The cumulative incidence of readmission was 39.8% (95% CI 35.2% to 44.8%, n=162) in −OGT and 30.2% (95% CI 25.8% to 35.2%, n=113) in +OGT. The unadjusted risk (HR (95% CI)) of readmission was 0.68 (0.54 to 0.87, p=0.002) in +OGT compared with –OGT, and remained significantly lower (0.72 (0.57 to 0.93, p=0.011)) adjusting for age, length of stay, sex, ADL and CCI. For patients discharged to own home the risk of readmission remained unchanged during the study period.ConclusionFollow-up visits by OGT to patients discharged to temporary care at an SNF significantly reduced 30-day readmission in older patients.