Study: Hospitals Can Do More to Reduce Avoidable Readmissions
<p>Although hospital readmissions have been estimated to cost Medicare $17 billion per year, little is known about the extent to which hospitals have taken recommended steps to reduce avoidable readmissions. </p><p>In a <a href="/publications/journal-article/2012/jul/contemporary-evidence-about-hospital-strategies-reducing-30">new article</a> published online July 18 by the <em>Journal of the American College of Cardiology,</em> Commonwealth Fund–supported researchers led by Yale University's Elizabeth Bradley, Ph.D., discuss findings from their survey of more than 500 U.S. hospitals to determine use of 10 practices that have been associated with lower readmission rates for heart failure and acute myocardial infarction. While a majority of the hospitals reported having taken preliminary steps to reduce the risk of readmission for patients with these conditions, in many facilities effective medication management techniques, as well as discharge and follow-up protocols, have yet to be implemented. </p>
<p>Visit <a href="/publications/journal-article/2012/jul/contemporary-evidence-about-hospital-strategies-reducing-30">commonwealthfund.org</a> to learn more results from this important study. </p>