Harlan Krumholz, MD, a Harold H. Hines Jr. professor of medicine and professor of investigative medicine and public health at Yale University, conducted a recent study that contrasts a separate analysis that showed hospitals with the poorest patients have higher readmission rates, according to a Yale Daily News report.
According to the report, Kaiser Health News conducted an analysis of more than 3,000 hospitals to determine 30-day readmission rates for congestive heart failure among Medicare patients. Their research suggested hospitals that treat the poorest patients displayed higher rates of readmissions compared to other hospitals. Another study conducted by CMS also suggested hospitals that see a higher proportion of African-American patients are more likely to have higher readmission rates, according to the report.
However, conclusions from Dr. Krumholz's own study undermines these research findings. Although his research also concluded hospitals with higher proportions of poor patients have slightly higher readmissions rates, the cause of the higher readmission rates was not due to socioeconomic status because hospitals with more poor patients had comparable readmission rates to hospitals with fewer poor patients.
Based on these findings, Dr. Krumholz suggested hospitals' "the medical approach" may be the core issue, according to the report.
According to the report, Kaiser Health News conducted an analysis of more than 3,000 hospitals to determine 30-day readmission rates for congestive heart failure among Medicare patients. Their research suggested hospitals that treat the poorest patients displayed higher rates of readmissions compared to other hospitals. Another study conducted by CMS also suggested hospitals that see a higher proportion of African-American patients are more likely to have higher readmission rates, according to the report.
However, conclusions from Dr. Krumholz's own study undermines these research findings. Although his research also concluded hospitals with higher proportions of poor patients have slightly higher readmissions rates, the cause of the higher readmission rates was not due to socioeconomic status because hospitals with more poor patients had comparable readmission rates to hospitals with fewer poor patients.
Based on these findings, Dr. Krumholz suggested hospitals' "the medical approach" may be the core issue, according to the report.
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