Reducing Avoidable Hospital Readmissions

Studies of Rehospitalizations

• Nearly 20% of Medicare hospitalizations are followed by readmission within 30 days.
• 90% of rehospitalizations within 30 days appear to be unplanned, the result of clinical deterioration.
• MedPAC: 75% of readmissions preventable, adding $12 Bn/yr to Medicare spending.
• Only half of the patients rehospitalized within 30 days had a physician visit before readmission.
  • Unknown if lack of physician visit causes readmissions—but poor continuity of care, esp for many chronically ill patients.
• 19% of Medicare discharges are followed by an adverse event within 30 days—2/3 are drug events, the kind most often judged "preventable."