This paper examines the impact of two reimbursement schemes on patient welfare, readmission rate, and waiting time in a three tiered public healthcare system comprising (a) a public funder who decides on the reimbursement rate to maximize patient welfare, (b) a public healthcare provider (HCP) who decides on the service rate (which affects readmission rate and operating cost), and (c) a pool of...

OBJECTIVES The most recent evolution of patient management after thoracic surgery implies the concept of fast-tracking. Since 2008, our unit has implemented a programme based on clinical protocols and standardized pathways of care aimed to reduce the postoperative stay after major lung resection. The objective of this study was to verify the safety of this policy by monitoring the patient readm...

BACKGROUND Although substantial effort has been devoted to reducing readmissions among heart failure (HF) patients, little is known about factors identified by patients and caregivers that may contribute to readmissions. The goal of this study was to compare the perspectives of HF patients, their caregivers, and their care team on HF management and hospital admissions. Understanding these persp...

OBJECTIVE To review literature identifying key components for measuring avoidable readmissions, their prevalence, risk factors, and interventions that can reduce potentially avoidable readmissions. DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION Literature search using Medline, PubMed and the Cochrane Library up to June 2010, using the terms "avoidable", "preventable", "unplanned", "unnecessary", "readmission", ...

AIMS Hospital readmission after implantation of cardioverter/defibrillators has a major impact on quality of life and cost-effectiveness in defibrillator patients. Rehospitalization has not been studied in large patient populations with modern transvenous defibrillation systems. METHODS AND RESULTS We report on incidence, reasons, time in follow-up, duration and predictors of hospital readmis...

CONTEXT ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treatment has improved outcomes and shortened hospital stay. Recently, 30-day readmission rates have been proposed as a metric for care of patients with STEMI. However, international rates and predictors of 30-day readmission after STEMI have not been studied. OBJECTIVE To determine international variation in and predictors of 30-day ...

Background. Hospitalization accounts for 70% of heart failure (HF) costs; readmission rates at 30 days are 24% and rise to 50% by 90 days. Agencies anticipate that telehomecare will provide the close monitoring necessary to prevent HF readmissions. Methods and Results. Randomized controlled trial to compare a telehomecare intervention for patients 55 and older following hospital discharge for H...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether there was a relationship between coded diseases at the time of hospital discharge, a pattern of ordering investigations, and hospital readmission in a major teaching hospital. DESIGN Systematic review of data relating to emergency medical patients admitted to St James' Hospital Dublin between 1 January and 31 December 2002. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS Data on dis...

BACKGROUND Hospital readmissions are associated with higher resource utilization and worse patient outcomes. Causes of unplanned readmission to the hospital are multiple with some being better targets for intervention than others. To understand risk factors for surgical readmission and their incremental contribution to current Veterans Health Administration (VA) surgical quality assessment, the...

BACKGROUND Hospital readmissions are a leading topic of healthcare policy and practice reform because they are common, costly, and potentially avoidable events. Hospitals face the prospect of reduced or eliminated reimbursement for an increasing number of preventable readmissions under nationwide cost savings and quality improvement efforts. To meet the current changes and future expectations, ...