By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    learn to recognize and treat yeast infections
    Most Commonly Asked Questions About Yeast Infections
    November 17, 2021
    Advanced lung cancer diagnosis systems used by doctors
    Advanced Lung Cancer Diagnosis Systems Used by Doctors
    March 6, 2022
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    June 13, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Chronic Disease Prevention Remains Top Priority
    September 9, 2017
    Worst Editorial of the Week Award
    September 13, 2017
    Are the Uninsured Getting a Free Ride?
    May 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 3 Reasons Your Readmission Rates Are Too High
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Finance > 3 Reasons Your Readmission Rates Are Too High
BusinessFinanceHospital Administration

3 Reasons Your Readmission Rates Are Too High

Abby Norman
Abby Norman
Share
4 Min Read
Readmission rates
SHARE
Readmission rates

Chances are, whether your on the administrative or clinical side of hospital operations, lowering readmission rates is high on your priority list.

Contents
There are three distinct reasons, categorized by patient.Readmission Rates | Data
Readmission rates

Chances are, whether your on the administrative or clinical side of hospital operations, lowering readmission rates is high on your priority list. For administrators and financial officers, lowering the costs accrued from readmissions is paramount to staying under budget and for doctors and nurses, having patients prepared for life at home after discharge is the mark of truly community minded care. The patient-centered medical home purports medical decision making as an equal playing field; particularly when it comes to post-discharge measures of patient care.

So why do patients end up back in the hospital? Why are costs sky high and penalties leaps and bounds above where they were in previous years?

There are three distinct reasons, categorized by patient.

  1. The patient experienced complications directly related to the initial hospital stay (e.g. post-op infection)
  2. The patient gets home, doesn’t know how to care for themselves and neither do their caregivers, so avoidable mistakes are made (particularly with medications)
  3. The patient has a chronic condition that initially led to a hospital stay, and they are still not clear on how to manage their condition at home and keep it from becoming exacerbated (such as COPD, asthma or diabetes)

You might have noticed that in the case of the first two reasons, the hospital is at fault for that patient’s return to the hospital. In the first case, a preventable infection or otherwise poor outcome occurred for the patient and, in the second, a complication or poor outcome occurred because steps were not taken to prevent it. The third case is tricky; where does one draw the line between the doctor’s responsibility to educate the patient about their condition and the patient’s responsibility to act upon their doctor’s recommendations?

More Read

Health Care Reform and Other Health Care Innovations – Regina Herzlinger Speaks From Harvard
Why Doctors Should Have Their Own Website
Web-Based Patient Engagement Lowers Anxiety for First-Time Colonoscopy Patients
My Wish List for Apple’s HealthKit Initiative
Spine Surgery is an Exception to the Usual Country Market Rules

Readmission Rates | Data

These are three unique data sets, but all three can be measured. And the data returned can be acted upon. Analyzing the data for cause and effect relationships is the first step to promoting reduced readmission rates across the board. While analyzing and reinventing your discharge procedure is a natural first step, it’s not enough to simply change the process for patient’s as they’re going out the door. True reform needs to come much earlier in the process, by identifying at-risk patient groups and address their needs in a holistic way before they even set foot through the front door for an admission. By understanding the needs of the community of patients your organization serves, you can make the most of a necessary hospital stay to promote education and management skills that will stay with a patient and their families post-discharge.

Easier said than done, perhaps: most physicians and nurses out on the floor with patients simply don’t have the time and resources. So, for many, piloting unique programs to address at-risk populations may be of interest, or likewise, restricting current discharge planning modalities to incorporate such measures.

TAGGED:hospital readmissions
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Abby Norman
My name is Abby Norman and I am a healthcare blogger. With over 10 years of experience in the medical field, I have developed a passion for helping others understand the complexities of healthcare.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Call BHM today for a complimentary consultation 1-888-831-1171
BusinessHealth ReformPolicy & LawPublic Health

Dual-Eligibility: An Overworked and Overlooked Population?

April 9, 2014

How Many Melanoma Patients Did the FDA Kill?

March 30, 2011
mobile email
BusinessSocial Media

10 Ways to Perfect Your Email Marketing

August 21, 2015
EHR money loser? HIS
BusinesseHealthFinanceMedical Records

EHR’s a Money Loser (Or is It?)

March 28, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?