To: Task Force Members From: Jordan Turnbull, Task Force Leader Date: August 11, 2025 Subject: Mitigating 30-Day Readmission percentages Problem Statement: Our hospital is experiencing an increased 30-day readmission rate for diagnostic measures underlined in the CMS Hospital Readmission Reduction program. The high percentage of readmission impacts patient outcomes as well as can be caused to implement financial penalties from the CMS, which affects our hospitals reputation as well as its resources. What Needs to Be Investigated: - Pinpoint of which specific diagnostic category is having the high readmission rates - Analysis of the root of the problem. Determine why patients are being readmitted which could be: discharge procedures, follow up care, patients cooperation, or gaps in post discharge support - Review and improvement upon existing hospital policies regarding discharge planning, outpatient coordination and patient education. - Examining social determinants that can increase readmission. These things can include: transportation, access to medication, home support/situation. Role of Task Force in Implementation: The task force will work together to make a plan that is efficient, and execute a plan that is actionable that pinpoints and mitigates the causes of readmissions. Plan: - Recommend processes/steps to patients that educates them on follow up care post discharge. - Work with case managers, primary care providers and community resources to improve quality of care socially, environmentally and physically following release. - Improving upon data collection, and readmission tracking to pinpoint trends. - Adjusting strategies based on efficiency by reporting to leadership. Our mission is to create an effective and efficient patient oriented approach to reduce readmissions whilst simultaneously improving quality of care and abiding by CMS standards. Participation from members will be required in order to reduce these rates. References: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (2024). Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov Jencks, S. F., Williams, M. V., & Coleman, E. A. (2009). Rehospitalizations among patients in the Medicare fee-for-service program. New England Journal of Medicine, 360(14), 1418–1428. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa0803563
