IMPROVING READMISSION RATES IN ACUTE CARE

The association between high rates of readmission and detrimental outcomes for an organization's finances and a patient's health outcome has caused it to be a leading cause of concern for healthcare organizations. Research suggests that lack of patient engagement has a significant impact on rates of readmission. Various studies prove that enhancing factors that influence patient engagement successfully decreases readmission rates. Multiple hospitals have reached success in reducing readmission rates by implementing plans to improve these factors. This paper analyzes the factors that influence patient engagement and aims to recognize solutions that are known to be effective so that an approach can be developed to improve readmission rates in an acute care setting. Effective solutions were identified to be advertising health information technology systems such as patient portal, communication via telephonically or printed infographic sheets, and use of the teach back method.