Reducing Hospital Readmissions: 5 Strategies
A significant marker of hospital care quality is its readmission rate—essentially, the percentage of patients who unexpectedly return for treatment after being discharged. These readmissions place a substantial financial burden on hospitals, with an average cost of over $14,000 per occurrence, as indicated by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. While it’s true that readmissions may yield some profit for healthcare facilities, the goal of excellent care lies in achieving better patient outcomes. To encourage hospitals to focus on improving care and cutting unnecessary readmissions, Medicare developed the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). This program penalizes institutions with excessive readmission figures by lowering their reimbursement rates. Consequently, many hospitals are making a concerted effort to implement large-scale policies that tackle the issue, creating robust programs specifically aimed at reducing unnecessary hospital readmissions.
5 Effective Strategies to Minimize Hospital Readmission Rates
Below are five proven approaches healthcare facilities can deploy to curb readmission rates effectively.
Identify High-Risk Patient Groups
It’s well-documented that certain patient demographics are more at risk of readmissions. Research has consistently shown that socioeconomic and environmental factors—such as household income, insurance status, or racial disparities—can influence how likely a patient is to require unplanned follow-up care. Additionally, patients diagnosed with specific chronic conditions, like heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or kidney failure, are especially prone to heading back to the hospital shortly after discharge.
Guideway’s Care Guidance services have been proven to reduce readmissions, including 31% reductions in CHF readmissions and 41% reductions in COPD readmissions.
Download the fact sheet on Care Guidance for readmission reduction to learn more.
Targeting these high-risk groups can help healthcare systems allocate resources more efficiently. For example, the implementation of Guideway’s Care Guidance services showcases the power of tailored support interventions. According to studies, these interventions have led to a 31% drop in readmissions for heart failure patients and an impressive 41% reduction for those with COPD. Equipped with data such as this, hospital staff can adopt measures like involving caregivers more intensely in post-discharge care or facilitating patient access to follow-up care with specialists. Building a robust support network around at-risk patients increases their chances of a smoother recovery and reduces their likelihood of requiring readmission.
Maintain Adequate Nurse Staffing Levels
Another highly effective strategy is ensuring that hospitals maintain sufficient nurse-to-patient ratios. Adequately staffed facilities offer better patient care overall and report significantly lower rates of unplanned readmissions. Research has substantiated this, with one extensive ten-year study discovering that hospitals staffed with higher numbers of registered nurses (RNs) reported an 8% drop in 30-day readmissions compared to understaffed facilities.
The connection between manageable workloads for nurses and improved patient outcomes is clear. When nurses aren’t overwhelmed with administrative tasks or an unmanageable number of patients, they can spend more time with everyone, enhancing communication and ensuring patients leave the hospital with comprehensive discharge instructions. Proper guidance helps patients adhere more closely to post-discharge care plans, reducing complications that could otherwise lead to readmissions.
One challenge hospitals face, however, is recruiting and retaining skilled nurses, especially with a growing wave of professionals retiring from the field. To address this, institutions can delegate non-clinical responsibilities to support staff, such as administrative workers, freeing up nurses to prioritize patient care. This adjustment enables nursing teams to work at full capacity and ensures patients receive the focused treatment they need.
Strengthen Transitional Care Services
Transitioning from hospital to home can be a fragile time for many patients, particularly those managing chronic or complicated health conditions. Strong transitional care programs can make all the difference in preventing readmissions. These services may include everything from rehabilitative care and physical therapy to support like dietary counseling and fall prevention education.
For instance, findings from a study published in BMC Health Services Research revealed the significant benefits of strengthened transitional care. Patients who had access to exercise regimens combined with regular nurse visits and phone consultations were found to be 3.6 times less likely to experience an unexpected hospital stay within 28 days of discharge. Adding a structured follow-up system at this stage helps build continuity of care, enabling patients to manage their recovery more effectively.
Communicate Clear Post-Discharge Instructions
Simple yet often overlooked, proper communication of discharge care plans is crucial. Patients who misunderstand or fail to recall essential post-discharge directions are at higher risk for complications, some of which may necessitate a return to the hospital.
One tool hospital use to mitigate this risk is the “teach-back” methodology. With this approach, patients are asked to repeat their care instructions in their own words, ensuring they have understood how to manage their health following discharge. The impact of this method is significant. Research published in the Journal of Patient Safety found that utilizing teach-back for discharge education could cut down 30-day readmission rates by as much as 45%. This straightforward approach provides a simple yet powerful way to promote patient compliance and improve outcomes.
Schedule Follow-Up Visits Within a Week
Prompt follow-ups with primary care providers after discharge have proven pivotal in lowering readmissions. According to a study by JAMA, patients who saw their physicians within seven days of leaving the hospital exhibited a readmission rate of 12.7%. Conversely, those who delayed their appointments or skipped follow-up care altogether had a significantly higher chance of being readmitted, with rates escalating to 17.5%.
Programs like the 7-Day Pledge, which encourages timely follow-up visits, help ensure patients receive continued care once they’ve left the hospital. These appointments allow doctors to review medications, fine-tune discharge plans, and provide much-needed support to patients working through the recovery process.
More Resources on Reducing Hospital Readmissions:
- Health Literacy and Hospital Readmission Rates
- Reduce Readmissions With Care Guidance
- Care Guidance for HRRP Conditions
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