The reasons behind avoidable deterioration, care utilization, and readmissions are largely beyond your control. Nearly 60 percent of a patient’s risk is tied to social, environmental, and behavioral factors that fall outside the health system or care episode (Samantha Artiga, 2018).
In a study of 1,066 readmitted patients, more than half (52%) had trouble in multiple self-care domains, including transportation, education, food insecurity, and housing instability (Greysen SR, 2017). And in a recent Guideway Care analysis of close to 1,000 navigated patients, the two biggest drivers behind readmissions were scheduling follow-up appointments and medication adherence, both of which are heavily influenced by transportation needs and financial barriers.