Massachusetts Hospitals are Reducing Readmissions Through Patient Education

Two hospitals in Massachusetts are taking steps to reduce readmissions (and the accompanying high costs and potential CMS penalties), according to a Worcester Telegram & Gazette report.

According to the report, St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester assigns patients determined to have a high risk of readmission to a 'transitional care coach;' a nurse who is available to communicate with the patient about at-home care. Less than ten percent of patients with a transitional care coach are readmitted, according to the report.

Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster and Fitchburg has focused on helping patients to manage their conditions long-term, like teaching patients to take their own vitals readings from home while allowing hospital staff to monitor the readings remotely, and has lower readmission rates than peer hospitals, according to the report.

More Articles on Reducing Readmissions:

5 Best-Practice Readmission Reduction Initiatives
Patient Safety Tool: Re-Engineered Discharge to Reduce Readmissions
7 Important Findings on Hospital Readmissions

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