Hospital Readmissions Less Likely for Discharged Heart Failure Patients Who Receive Combined Care

The chance of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge is roughly 8 percent less for heart failure patients who receive early, intensive nursing services combined with at least one outpatient physician visit during the week following discharge, an AHRQ study concluded. Neither treatment used alone, however, had a significant effect on hospital readmission. The researchers examined almost 99,000 hospital stay records for Medicare patients admitted with heart failure who were discharged to home health care. “Reducing Readmissions Among Heart Failure Patients Discharged to Home Health Care: Effectiveness of Early and Intensive Nursing Services and Early Physician Follow-Up” appeared online July 28 in Health Services Research. Access the abstract.