What Are Hospital Readmissions?
According to a RWJF/Health Affairs analysis of the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, readmissions refers to a patient being admitted to a hospital within a certain time period from an initial admission - generally within 30 days of an initial hospital stay. If a hospital has a high proportion of patients readmitted within a short time frame, it may be an indication of inadequate quality of care in the hospital or a lack of appropriate coordination of postdischarge care.
Stemming from multiple initiatives connected with our work to improve health care in the U.S., this collection includes research and case studies on the causes and ramifications of avoidable hospital readmissions, and resources for health care practitioners and others who are working to reduce readmissions and improve care transitions.
