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Collaborative initiative reduces 30-day hospital readmissions

The Enhanced Care Program, which includes coordination between an interdisciplinary team in transitioning patients to a skilled nursing facility, lowered 30-day hospital readmission rates, according to a study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

“Increased acuity of skilled nursing facility patients challenges the current system of care for these patients,” Bradley T. Rosen, MD, MBA, from Cedars-Sinai Health System, Los Angeles, and colleagues wrote.

Between Jan. 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, Rosen and colleagues performed an observational, retrospective cohort evaluation to determine if the Enhanced Care Program, a collaborative initiative between physicians, nurse practitioners and other medical staff to help patients discharged from an acute care facility transition to a skilled nursing facility, reduces 30-day hospital readmissions.

The Enhanced Care Program included direct patient care in which nurse practitioners were available 24/7, medication reconciliation at the time of transfer and educational in-services for the staff of the skilled nursing facilities in addition to standard care.

An unadjusted analysis indicated that the average 30-day readmission rate was lower among patients enrolled in the Enhanced Care Program than those who were not enrolled (17.2% vs. 23%).

After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the researchers found that patients in the intervention group were 29% less likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days than those in the control group.

“The results of this intervention are compelling and add to the growing body of literature suggesting that a comprehensive, multipronged effort to enhance clinical oversight and coordination of care for [skilled nursing facility] patients can improve outcomes,” Rosen and colleagues concluded. – by Alaina Tedesco

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.