Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Reducing Readmissions: Making Data Real

The Reducing Readmissions: Making Data Real project decreased acute rehospitalization rates by almost half. This was accomplished by doing more of whatever worked and going back to the basics, educating staff with patient stories shared by patient educators and creating a sense of ownership in the nursing staff. The results have been dramatic, as evidenced by the reduction of 30-day claims-based re-hospitalization outcomes from 23 percent to 13 percent over the past year.

This case study is part of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association's annual Quality Excellence Achievement Awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals and health systems in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These organizations 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—and the Institute of Medicine’s six aims for improvement—safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. To learn more, visit https://www.ihaqualityawards.org/javascript-ui/IHAQualityAward/