August 21, 2014

No one wants to be discharged from a hospital only to be readmitted within a month. Nationwide, about 18 percent of Medicare patients were readmitted in 2013. As an industry - Medicare, payors and hospitals - all are working together to reduce this rate. Locally, southwest Ohio hospitals as a group are doing better than our peers nationally and continue to improve.

At TriHealth, a new team approach with our hospitals, doctors and nurses collaborating to solve this issue is showing positive results for patients in high-risk areas, such as congestive heart failure. Better results also lead to higher patient satisfaction and lower costs.

Helping Patients Succeed

It's a challenging task because readmissions often are not the result of a medical issue. We have learned many things about what causes readmissions, including that communication during discharge is as important as the medical care we provide. Instead of just offering clinical information, we are doing a better job focusing on individual patients by:

• Simplifying instructions for patients returning home
• Confirming patients understand what to do to get better
• Ensuring patients know the value of proper follow-up care

Going Beyond the Patient

We are becoming more involved in this transition from hospital to home, making sure patients' care is being coordinated, that they and their caregivers are aware of their next appointment, and are in contact with their primary care physician.

Often, our clinicians are reaching out to educate family members who provide care at home. We help them understand and commit to what's needed to help their loved one along the road to recovery. While there is more to do, today I'm pleased to report that it's becoming a way of life.