These days, reducing readmissions for high-risk patients is an essential process for hospitals. Healthcare Financial Management Association’s article “Two Ways Hospitals Can Reduce Avoidable Readmissions” notes that successful efforts from four hospitals with low 30-day rehospitalization rates are partially due to collaborating with inpatient and outpatient care providers such as Live Free Home Health Care, to provide a continuum of care.
The hospitals quoted in the article offer the following tips to reduce readmissions:
- Start planning for a patient’s discharge on the admission day. When a senior is hospitalized, contact a home healthcare agency to arrange for in-home care when the senior is discharged. Outcomes improve when help is available as soon as possible.
- Identify patients who are at high risk for problems following discharge for enhanced care coordination and/or case management. (Make sure social workers visit all patients over 80 years old to address care needs.)
- Use technology to assess, track, or refer patients.
- Do a thorough assessment of the patient’s risk factors, care needs, available resources, understanding of disease or condition, and family support.
Live Free Home Health Care of New Hampton, NH knows how important it is to create a transitional care plan in order to reduce the risk of hospital readmission for our clients. We can help clients plan for care starting on day one of their admission, and monitor their health and ensure that care plans are followed once they arrive home. Give us a call at 603-217-0149 or complete our simple online contact form to learn more about how we can help patients transition from hospital to home.