Fifty-eight percent of variation in hospital 30-day readmission rates is due to factors not associated with hospital performance, according to a study in Health Services Research.
In a study sample of more than 4,000 hospitals, researchers identified "county characteristics" independently associated with readmission rates.
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Here county characteristics related to higher readmission rates.
• Higher percentage of residents never married
• Higher percentage of Medicare beneficiaries
• Low education status
Here county characteristics related to lower readmission rates.
• County is designated as a retirement destination
• More nursing homes per capita
"That the majority of the unexplained variation in hospital readmission rates can be attributed to counties rather than hospitals suggests that narrowly targeting hospitals with reimbursement adjustments and other incentives can lead at best to marginal improvements in readmission rates," according to the study.
Researchers suggest community-based readmission reduction strategies may be more effective in helping to reduce readmission rates.
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