5 Strategies for Reducing Hospital Readmissions
Hospital readmissions remain high in the United States, especially for seniors. A whopping 34% of hospital discharges will be readmitted within 90 days. While billions of dollars in taxpayer money are lost on these readmissions, in many cases they are preventable. Proper discharge planning promotes timely and safe patient transfer between care levels and across care settings. This is especially true during discharge from a skilled nursing facility to community settings or a home. However, with proper discharge protocols and trained caregivers for seniors, ER visits reduce.
Caregivers are aware of a senior's needs and will ensure that they are adequately hydrated and that they take their medication on time. Skilled caregivers will also watch the nutrition of seniors and help transport them to follow-up appointments with doctors and physical therapists. Here are 5 more strategies that can help reduce readmissions.
1. Ensure Sufficient Support to Avoid Hospital Readmissions
It is important to ensure that seniors have sufficient support in all aspects to ensure that they don't suffer a setback that can lead to readmission. Sufficient support means that there are enough doctors, physical therapists, and support staff so that there is comprehensive communication. This then enhances the quality of care and support post-discharge.
2. Identify High-Risk Patients
There are many circumstances and conditions that place a patient at a higher risk of readmission soon after a hospital discharge. Common high-risk factors leading to readmission include:
- Mental health issues
- Older age
- Specific medical or surgical diagnoses
- Co-morbidities
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- renal failure
- Heart failure
- Emotional factors
- Multiple medications and associated reactions
- Deficient living conditions
- Caregiver level and home support
- Financial issues and deficient living conditions
- History of hospital readmissions
3. Utilizing Trained Caregivers to Reduce ER Visits
Utilizing trained caregivers during the discharge of a senior greatly reduces their readmission rate. Trained caregivers can follow discharge protocols and ensure that seniors adhere to doctors' instructions. The integration of caregivers during a senior's discharge process significantly reduces the length of rehospitalization, reduces readmission times, and costs of post-discharge care. In-home, specialized non-medical care can help keep seniors from going back to the hospital by monitoring safety and quality of life.
4. Transporting Clients to Follow Up Appointments With Physical Therapists and Doctors
After discharges from a hospital facility, doctors keep an eye on how a patient progresses. This means that a patient goes to follow-up appointments with doctors and physical therapists. This is critical in ensuring that possible signs of a potential setback are addressed in time. Thus, reducing readmission.
Seniors may require the assistance of caregivers to enable transportation to follow-up appointments with doctors and therapists.
5. Improve Transition Care
When there are gaps in the discharge protocols, often, someone ignored the doctor's instructions. This works unfavorably for a patient since the quality care they were receiving from doctors is no longer provided as it should, leading to setbacks. When there is quality transitional care from a hospital to rehabilitative, skilled, or restorative care, physical therapy, dietary planning, and nutritional counseling, hospital readmissions are significantly reduced. Transitional care is especially effective for seniors and patients with complex and chronic conditions.
We Can Help Lower Hospital Readmissions
Hospital readmissions are not only costly but also pose a significant setback to a patient's recovery. Patients, as well as their families, face emotional and psychological challenges when their loved one readmits to a hospital.
Senior Helpers of Knoxville is your number one choice provider for in-home senior care. Our home care services range from companion care for seniors in need of minor assistance to in-depth specialized care for patients with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and all non-medical care of Seniors. Contact us now for more information.