An 85-year-old patient with heart failure and diabetes is being discharged from the hospital after an exacerbation. To reduce the risk of readmission, which intervention is most critical for effective discharge planning?

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

For high-risk patients, especially those with heart failure, a timely follow-up visit (ideally within 7 days) with their primary care physician or specialist is a critical intervention shown to significantly reduce hospital readmission rates by allowing early identification and management of post-discharge issues.