Association between readmissions and quality of discharge planning

Editor's Note

Patients who received high-quality discharge planning were less likely to be readmitted within 30 days, finds this study from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The study of 2.1 million patients in 16 states, who were treated for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and total hip or joint replacement, also found that if readmissions did occur, most patients would return to the same hospital for continued treatment.

According to the study, ideal discharge planning begins several days in advance, with the goal that patients understand:

• where they will go after discharge
• what special care and medications they might need
• whether they must restrict certain foods or activities
• which symptoms to monitor.

The results suggest that by improving the quality of discharge planning, hospitals may be able to influence 30-day readmissions and increase the likelihood that any readmissions would be to the same hospital, the authors say.

This study examines the association between the quality of hospital discharge planning and all-cause 30-day readmissions and same-hospital readmissions. The sample included adults aged 18 years and older hospitalized in 16 states in 2010 or 2011 for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia, or total hip or joint arthroplasty.