Researchers studied the impact of a quality improvement practice designed to identify and categorize potentially preventable medication-related hospital admissions. They published the results in Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.
The practice involves pharmacists systematically assessing readmissions of high-risk patients to determine the reasons for the admission and whether each was potentially preventable and medication related. They applied the practice to 401 readmissions.
Here are three study findings:
1. Of the 401 readmissions, 26 percent were potentially preventable and medication related.
2. The most common categories were:
● Nonadherence due to patient choice: 23.8 percent
● Untreated condition for which medication is indicated: 13.3 percent
● Dose too high: 10.5 percent
● Dose too low: 10.5 percent
3. The percentage of readmissions that were potentially preventable and medication related was significantly higher in more rural areas (30 percent) compared to urban areas (17 percent).