Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Readmission Reduction Initiative

The Hospital Group focused on reducing the readmission rate on the rehabilitation service unit (RSU) at the Boston campus of Hebrew Senior Life, an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School. Initially, the RSU transfer rate was equal to or above the state and national benchmarks. A Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation grant incorporated a communication forum called TIPS (Team Improvement Patient Safety) conference and the use of palliative care consults as ways to prevent readmission from the RSU. This model has helped reduce readmissions and sustained the work.