FEATURED MEDICAL EDUCATION TOPIC: Prevention of Hospital Readmissions

What is the problem?

The average hospital readmission rate in the United States is 14.67%, although it varies by state. Sepsis, Heart failure, COPD, Acute MI, and stroke are 5 highly prevalent conditions in the top 20 leading causes of readmissions. 30-day hospital readmissions are strongly influenced by discharge care, and deficiencies in discharge planning are associated with adverse patient outcomes. Practitioners need to know who is at risk for readmission and mortality, and how to address shortcomings in discharge planning to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learners will be able to:

• Recognize the most common reasons for patient readmission and associated costs and implement strategies to reduce them
• Consider and appropriately utilize recommended strategies for the reduction of readmissions
• Discuss outpatient continuity care as it relates to Lifestyle Medicine
• Consider the effectiveness of Lifestyle Medicine Interventions
• Effectively communicate discharge instructions and ensure patients receive appropriate follow-up care, taking potential cultural, health literacy, and language barriers into consideration

If your medical staff needs an update on hospital readmissions, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

REFERENCES

https://www.definitivehc.com/resources/healthcare-insights/average-hospital-readmission-state

https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/24_0138.htm

https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/value-based-programs/hospital-readmissions