Long-term care (LTC) facility residents often experience potentially avoidable hospital transfers, which are expensive, disruptive and disorienting for frail elders and people with disabilities. LTC facility residents are especially vulnerable to the risks that accompany hospital stays and transitions between nursing facilities and hospitals, including medication errors and hospital-acquired infections.
The Great Plains QIN team recently updated the Skilled Nursing Facility Best Practices to Reduce Potentially Preventable Hospital Admissions. Access the document.
A hospital readmission increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, including increased patient stress and higher mortality rates. Under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), skilled nursing facilities are subject to penalties or rewards based on the SNF thirty-day all-cause readmission measure. These measures target Medicare beneficiaries receiving short-term post-acute care, Medicare-covered hospital stays and SNF use among long-stay nursing facility residents. Readmissions double the cost of care for one of these events and that is why it is a key performance indicator.
“This resource includes shared best practices to consider as you work to reduce those potential avoidable emergency visits and hospital readmissions. Included are tips and resources for admission to discharge, including pre-admission screening, care transitions, care processes and transfer/discharge preparation. This tool will assist facilities in determining if they have the resources and capacity to provide the care needed and can help prevent adverse events that impact the health and safety of our patients.” shared Susan Wilcox, RN, quality improvement advisor with Great Plains QIN.
We will be covering this topic in more detail during our Friday Focus 4 Health Session. Details below.
The Friday Focus 4 Health February Series begins on February 3, 2023
Reducing Avoidable Hospital Emergency Department Visits | 12:00 – 12:30 pm CT
Blood Pressure Control | 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. CT
One topic. 4 weeks. 30 minutes. Your pace.
