Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Multidisciplinary Approach to Reducing Preventable Readmissions

Hospital readmissions are costly for both patients and facilities. At the time of discharge, patients are often confused about how to care for themselves at home. Education at the time of discharge is most likely to be forgotten due to increased anxiety and stress. Avoidable readmissions also cause increased burden and risk for patients. Utilizing their core values, the hospital wanted to create a healing environment for patients and make sure their healing continued after they return home and achieve successful recovery at home without a readmission. The goal was to reduce readmissions by 20 percent for fiscal year 2014 by providing a more patient-involved experience by including them in detailed education, medication education by pharmacy, case management rounding, and detailed call backs. The hospital utilized Lean Six Sigma processes to identify interventions to achieve their goal.

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state.  These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)