Use of a Computerized Algorithm to Evaluate the Proportion and Causes of Potentially Preventable Readmissions Among Patients Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities

ObjectivesOlder patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for post-acute care are at high risk for hospital readmission. Yet, as in the community setting, some readmissions may be preventable with optimal transitional care. This study examined the proportion of 30-day hospital readmissions from SNFs that could be considered potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs) and evaluated the reasons for these readmissions.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and ParticipantsPost-acute practice of an integrated health care delivery system serving 11 SNFs in the US Midwest. Patients discharged from the hospital to an SNF and subsequently readmitted to the hospital within 30 days from January 1, 2009, through November 31, 2016.MethodsA computerized algorithm evaluated the relationship between initial and repeat hospitalizations to determine whether the repeat hospitalization was a PPR. We assessed for changes in PPR rates across the system over the study period and evaluated the readmission categories to identify the most prevalent PPR categories.ResultsOf 11,976 discharges to SNFs for post-acute care among 8041 patients over the study period, 16.6% resulted in rehospitalization within 30 days, and 64.8% of these rehospitalizations were considered PPRs. Annual proportion of PPRs ranged from 58.2% to 66.4% [mean (standard deviation) 0.65 (0.03); 95% confidence interval CI 0.63-0.67; P = .36], with no discernable trend. Nearly one-half (46.2%) of all 30-day readmissions were classified as potentially preventable medical readmissions related to recurrence or continuation of the reason for initial admission or to complications from the initial hospitalization.Conclusions and ImplicationsFor this cohort of patients discharged to SNFs, a computerized algorithm categorized a large proportion of 30-day hospital readmissions as potentially preventable, with nearly one-half of those linked to the reason for the initial hospitalization. These findings indicate the importance of improvement in postdischarge transitional care for patients discharged to SNFs.     

Health Care Costs and Utilization Predictions by the Skilled Nursing Facility Readmission Risk Instrument

ObjectivesHealth care providers at hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are increasingly expected to optimize care of post-acute patients to reduce hospital readmissions and contain costs. To achieve these goals, providers need to understand their patients’ risk of hospital readmission and how this risk is associated with health care costs. A previously developed risk prediction model identifies patients’ probability of 30-day hospital readmission at the time of discharge to an SNF. With a computerized algorithm, we translated this model as the Skilled Nursing Facility Readmission Risk (SNFRR) instrument. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between 30-day health care costs and hospital readmissions according to the level of risk calculated by this model.DesignThis retrospective cohort study used SNFRR scores to evaluate patient data.Setting and ParticipantsThe patients were discharged from Mayo Clinic Rochester hospitals to 11 area SNFs.MethodsWe compared the outcomes of all-cause 30-day standardized direct medical costs and hospital readmissions between risk quartiles based on the distribution of SNFRR scores for patients discharged to SNFs for post-acute care from April 1 through November 30, 2017.ResultsMean 30-day all-cause standardized costs were positively associated with SNFRR score quartiles and ranged from $9199 in the fourth quartile (probability of readmission, 0.27-0.66) to $2679 in the first quartile (probability of readmission, 0.07-0.13) (P ≤ .05). Patients in the fourth SNFRR score quartile had 5.68 times the odds of 30-day hospital readmission compared with those in the first quartile.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe SNFRR instrument accurately predicted standardized direct health care costs for patients on discharge to an SNF and their risk for 30-day hospital readmission. Therefore, it could be used to help categorize patients for preemptive interventions. Further studies are needed to confirm its validity in other institutions and geographic areas.     

Readmission Patterns Over 90-Day Episodes of Care Among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries Discharged to Post-acute Care

Objective

Examine readmission patterns over 90-day episodes of care in persons discharged from hospitals to post-acute settings.

Functional Status Across Post-Acute Settings is Associated With 30-Day and 90-Day Hospital Readmissions

ObjectiveTo examine the association between cocalibrated functional scores across post-acute care settings and the subsequent risk of hospital readmission.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and ParticipantsWe analyzed 781,021 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries discharged to either inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), or home health agencies (HHA) after an acute hospital stay for stroke (N = 143,277), lower extremity joint replacements (512,577), and hip/femur fracture (125,167) between January 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014.MeasuresFunctional items from IRF-PAI, MDS, and OASIS were categorized into self-care and mobility domains. We cocalibrated admission functional scores across post-acute settings and divided scores into 4 functional levels using quartiles (Q1-Q4, with Q4 representing the most independent function). The primary outcomes were 30-day and 90-day hospital readmissions (yes/no) after an initial post-acute stay.ResultsPatients who were more dependent in self-care and mobility at the initial post-acute setting were significantly more likely to experience hospital readmission [eg, hazard ratios of 30-day readmission in stroke: 1.54 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47-1.61), 1.18 (95% CI 1.14-1.23), and 1.12 (95% CI 1.08-1.16) for Q1, Q2 and Q3, compared to Q4]. We found similar results for risk of 90-day hospital readmission across impairment conditions.Conclusions and ImplicationsPatients who were more functionally dependent at the initial post-acute setting had a higher risk to readmit to the hospitals after discharging from the post-acute setting for 30 and 90 days, compared with patients who were more functionally independent. This finding is consistent across impairment conditions and post-acute settings. Future research should determine effective strategies of maintaining and facilitating functional performance across post-acute settings to optimize long-term patient outcomes.     

Gender Differences in the Rate of 30-Day Readmissions after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background

It has been reported that women have higher 30-day readmission rates than men after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, readmission after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ACS is a distinct subset of patients in whom gender differences have not been adequately studied.

Functional Recovery Rate: A Feasible Method for Evaluating and Comparing Rehabilitation Outcomes Between Skilled Nursing Facilities

ObjectivesThe recovery of patients' physical function and the rate at which this occurs are important parameters for evaluating value in post-acute care (PAC). However, no metrics are presently used to compare skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) based on the functional recovery rates (FRRs) for patients in their care. The objectives of this study were to examine whether the average FRR differed significantly among SNFs and to compare the FRR to other measures currently used to assess care quality in SNFs.DesignRetrospective observational study.Setting and Participants3913 patients discharged from hospitals in one health system to one of 10 partner SNFs between January 2017 and September 2019.MethodsThe FRR—the difference in Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care 6-Clicks basic mobility score from SNF admission to discharge relative to the SNF length of stay (in days)—was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included metrics from the SNF Quality Reporting Program (functional recovery alone, discharge to the community, and 30-day hospital readmission). Differences in patients' outcomes between SNFs were tested using multiple regression in order to adjust for patient characteristics.ResultsAcross the 10 SNFs, the highest adjusted mean FRR was 0.70 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55, 0.90] and the lowest was 0.39 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.46) points per day. Two SNFs had an adjusted mean FRR statistically higher, and 2 had an FRR statistically lower, than the sample mean (0.50, 95% CI: 0.48-0.52). SNF rankings varied by metric.Conclusions and ImplicationsIndividual SNFs vary in their mean FRR for patients making it a potentially useful measure of value for comparing SNFs. Standardized measurement and reporting of FRR could be beneficial to patients and their families as they consider specific SNFs for necessary post-acute rehabilitation and to hospital systems seeking to identify high-value PAC providers with whom to partner in collaborative care models.     

Machine-Learning Modeling to Predict Hospital Readmission Following Discharge to Post-Acute Care

ObjectivesPrimary purpose was to generate a model to identify key factors relevant to acute care hospital readmission within 90 days from 3 types of post-acute care (PAC) sites: home with home care services (HC), skilled nursing facility (SNF), and inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). Specific aims were to (1) examine demographic characteristics of adults discharged to 3 types of PAC sites and (2) compare 90-day acute hospital readmission rate across PAC sites and risk levels.DesignRetrospective, secondary analysis design was used to examine hospital readmissions within 90 days for persons discharged from hospital to SNF, IRF, or HC.Settings and ParticipantsCohort sample was composed of 2015 assessment data from 3,592,995 Medicare beneficiaries, including 1,536,908 from SNFs, 306,878 from IRFs, and 1,749,209 patients receiving HC services.MeasuresInitial level of analysis created multiple patient profiles based on predictive patient characteristics. Second level of analysis consisted of multiple logistic regressions within each profile to create predictive algorithms for likelihood of readmission within 90 days, based on risk profile and PAC site.ResultsTotal sample 90-day hospital readmission rate was 27.48%. Patients discharged to IRF had the lowest readmission rate (23.34%); those receiving HC services had the highest rate (31.33%). Creation of model risk subgroups, however, revealed alternative outcomes. Patients seem to do best (i.e., lowest readmission rates) when discharged to SNF with one exception, those in the very high risk group. Among all patients in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, the lowest readmission rates occurred among SNF patients.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe proposed model has potential use to stratify patients’ potential risk for readmission as well as optimal PAC destination. Machine-learning modeling with large data sets is a useful strategy to increase the precision accuracy in predicting outcomes among patients who have nonhome discharges from the hospital.     

Passing the SNF Test: A Secondary Analysis of a Sepsis Transition Intervention Trial Among Patients Discharged to Post-Acute Care

ObjectivesSepsis survivors discharged to post-acute care facilities experience high rates of mortality and hospital readmission. This study compared the effects of a Sepsis Transition and Recovery (STAR) program vs usual care (UC) on 30-day mortality and hospital readmission among sepsis survivors discharged to post-acute care.DesignSecondary analysis of a multisite pragmatic randomized clinical trial.Setting and ParticipantsSepsis survivors discharged to post-acute care.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of patients from the IMPACTS (Improving Morbidity During Post-Acute Care Transitions for Sepsis) randomized clinical trial who were discharged to post-acute care. IMPACTS evaluated the effectiveness of STAR, a nurse-navigator-led program to deliver best practice post-sepsis care. Subjects were randomized to receive either STAR or UC. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission and mortality. We also evaluated hospital-free days alive as a secondary outcome.ResultsOf 691 patients enrolled in IMPACTS, 175 (25%) were discharged to post-acute care [143 (82%) to skilled nursing facilities, 12 (7%) to long-term acute care hospitals, and 20 (11%) to inpatient rehabilitation]. Of these, 87 received UC and 88 received the STAR intervention. The composite 30-day all-cause mortality and readmission endpoint occurred in 26 (29.9%) patients in the UC group vs 18 (20.5%) in the STAR group [risk difference −9.4% (95% CI −22.2 to 3.4); adjusted odds ratio 0.58 (95% CI 0.28 to 1.17)]. Separately, 30-day all-cause mortality was 8.1% in the UC group compared with 5.7% in the STAR group [risk difference −2.4% (95% CI −9.9 to 5.1)] and 30-day all-cause readmission was 26.4% in the UC group compared with 17.1% in the STAR program [risk difference −9.4% (95% CI −21.5 to 2.8)].Conclusions and ImplicationsThere are few proven interventions to reduce readmission among patients discharged to post-acute care facilities. These results suggest the STAR program may reduce 30-day mortality and readmission rates among sepsis survivors discharged to post-acute care facilities.     

Dementia Severity Associated With Increased Risk of Potentially Preventable Readmissions During Home Health Care

ObjectivesApproximately 14% of Medicare beneficiaries are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of home health care admission. Individuals with dementia account for 30% of all home health care admissions and are at high risk for readmission. Our primary objective was to determine the association between dementia severity at admission to home health care and 30-day potentially preventable readmissions (PPR) during home health care. A secondary objective was to develop a dementia severity scale from Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) items based on the Functional Assessment Staging Tool (FAST).DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsHome health care; 126,292 Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health care (July 1, 2013–June 1, 2015) diagnosed with dementia (ICD-9 codes).Measures30-day PPR during home health care. Dementia severity categorized into 6 levels (nonaffected to severe).ResultsThe overall rate of 30-day PPR was 7.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.4, 7.7] but varied by patient and health care utilization characteristics. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the odds ratio (OR) for dementia severity category 6 was 1.37 (95% CI 1.29, 1.46) and the OR for category 7 was 1.94 (95% CI 1.64, 2.31) as compared to dementia severity category 1/2.Conclusions and implicationsDementia severity in the later stages is associated with increased risk for potentially preventable readmissions. Our findings suggest that individuals admitted to home health during the later stages of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias may require greater supports and specialized care to minimize negative outcomes such as readmissions. Development of a dementia severity scale based on OASIS items and the FAST is feasible. Future research is needed to determine effective strategies for decreasing potentially preventable readmissions of individuals with severe dementia who receive home health care. Future research is also needed to validate the proposed dementia severity categories used in this study.     

Reducing Hospital Readmissions Through a Skilled Nursing Facility Discharge Intervention: A Pragmatic Trial

ObjectiveTo determine if implementation of Project Re-Engineered Discharge (RED), designed for hospitals but adapted for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), reduces hospital readmissions after SNF discharge to the community in residents admitted to the SNF following an index hospitalization.DesignA pragmatic trial.Setting and participantsSNFs in southeastern Massachusetts, and residents discharged to the community.MethodsWe compared SNFs that deployed an adapted RED intervention to a matched control group from the same region. The primary outcome was hospital readmission within 30 days after SNF discharge, among residents who had been admitted to the SNF following an index hospitalization and then discharged home. January 2016 through March 2017 was the baseline period; April 2017 through June 2018 was the follow-up period (after implementation of the intervention). We used a difference-in-differences analysis to compare the intervention SNFs to the control group, using generalized estimating equation regression and controlling for facility characteristics.ResultsAfter implementation of RED, readmission rates were lower across all 4 measures in the intervention group; control facilities’ readmission rates remained stable or increased. The relative decrease was 0.9% for the primary outcome of hospital readmission within 30 days after SNF discharge and 1.7% for readmission within 30 days of the index hospitalization discharge date (P ≤ .001 for both comparisons).Conclusions and ImplicationsWe found that a systematic discharge process developed for the hospital can be adapted to the SNF environment and can reduce readmissions back to the hospital, perhaps through improved self-management skills and better engagement with community services. This work is particularly timely because of Medicare's new Value-Based Purchasing Program, in which nursing homes can receive incentive payments if their hospital readmission rates are low relative to their peers. To verify its scalability and broad potential, RED should be validated across a broader diversity of SNFs nationally.     

Risk factors of surgical evacuation following second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy

BackgroundSecond-trimester medical termination of pregnancy (TOP) is associated with a higher risk of surgical evacuation than earlier medical TOP. Little is known about risk factors of surgical evacuation. Therefore, we assessed these risk factors among women undergoing second-trimester medical TOP.Study DesignData on 227 women were derived from a prospective randomized trial comparing 1- and 2-day mifepristone–misoprostol intervals in second-trimester medical TOP between 2008 and 2010.ResultsThe rate of surgical evacuation was 30.8%. The risk of surgical evacuation was increased by a history of curettage [odds ratio (OR) 4.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–11.7], fetal indications for TOP (OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.1–34.4), age above 24 years (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.1–5.3) and a 2-day interval (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1–4.1).ConclusionsHistory of curettage, fetal indication, increasing age and 2-day interval between mifepristone and misoprostol increase the risk of surgical evacuation in cases of second-trimester medical TOP. These findings are important when optimizing clinical service in second-trimester TOP.     

Hospital Readmissions Among Post-acute Nursing Home Residents: Does Obesity Matter?

ObjectivesTo explore profiles of obese residents who receive post-acute care in nursing homes (NHs) and to assess the relationship between obesity and hospital readmissions and how it is modified by individual comorbidities, age, and type of index hospitalizations.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsMedicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who were newly admitted to free-standing US NHs after an acute inpatient episode between 2011 and 2014 (N = 2,323,019).MeasuresThe Minimum Data Set 3.0 were linked with Medicare data. The outcome variable was 30-day hospital readmission from an NH. Residents were categorized into 3 groups based on their body mass index (BMI): nonobese, mildly obese, moderate-to-severely obese. We tested the relationship between obesity and 30-day readmissions by fixed-effects logit models and stratified analyses by the type of index hospitalization and residents' age.ResultsForty percent of the identified residents were admitted after a surgical episode, and the rest were admitted after a medical episode. The overall relationship between obesity and readmissions suggested that obesity was associated with higher risks of readmission among the oldest old (≥85 years) residents but with lower risks of readmission among the youngest group (65-74 years). After accounting for individual co-covariates, the association between obesity and readmissions among the oldest old residents became weaker; the adjusted odds ratio was 1.061 (P = .049) and 1.004 (P = .829) for moderate-to-severely obese patients with surgical and medical index hospitalizations, respectively. The protective effect of obesity among younger residents reduced after adjusting for covariates.Conclusions/RelevanceThe relationship between obesity and hospital readmission among post-acute residents could be affected by comorbidities, age, and the type of index hospitalization. Further studies are also warranted to understand how to effectively measure NH quality outcomes, including hospital readmissions, so that policies targeting at quality improvement can successfully achieve their goals without unintended consequences.     

Facility-Level Factors and Outcomes After Skilled Nursing Facility Admission for Trauma and Surgical Patients

Objective

Patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have worse outcomes than those discharged to home, but whether this is due to differences in facility-level factors in addition to patient characteristics is not known. We aimed to determine whether SNF-level factors including nurse staffing and patient density are associated with outcomes after acute hospitalization for trauma or surgery.

Evaluation of prediction strategy and care coordination for COPD readmissions

Objectives: Factors that influence the likelihood of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and the impact of posthospital care coordination remain uncertain. LACE index (L = length of stay, A = Acuity of admission; C = Charlson comorbidity index; E = No. of emergency department (ED) visits in last 6 months) is a validated tool for predicting 30-days readmissions for general medicine patients. We aimed to identify variables predictive of COPD readmissions including LACE index and determine the impact of a novel care management process on 30-day all-cause readmission rate.

Methods: In a case-control design, potential readmission predictors including LACE index were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression for 461 COPD patients between January-October 2013. Patients with a high LACE index at discharge began receiving care coordination in July 2013. We tested for association between readmission and receipt of care coordination between July-October 2013. Care coordination consists of a telephone call from the care manager who: 1) reviews discharge instructions and medication reconciliation; 2) emphasizes importance of medication adherence; 3) makes a follow-up appointment with primary care physician within 1–2 weeks and; 4) makes an emergency back-up plan.

Results: COPD readmission rate was 16.5%. An adjusted LACE index of ≥ 13 was not associated with readmission (p = 0.186). Significant predictors included female gender (odds ratio [OR] 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29–0.91, p = 0.021); discharge to skilled nursing facility (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.36–6.75, p = 0.007); 4–6 comorbid illnesses (OR 9.21, 95% CI 1.17–76.62, p = 0.035) and ≥ 4 ED visits in previous 6 months (OR 6.40, 95% CI 1.25–32.87, p = 0.026). Out of 119 patients discharged between July-October 2013, 41% received the care coordination. The readmission rate in the intervention group was 14.3% compared to 18.6% in controls (p = 0.62).

Conclusions: Factors influencing COPD readmissions are complex and poorly understood. LACE index did not predict 30-days all-cause COPD readmissions. Posthospital care coordination for transition of care from hospital to the community showed a 4.3% reduction in the 30-days all-cause readmission rate which did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.62).     

Impact of Dementia on Long-Term Hip Fracture Surgery Outcomes: An Electronic Health Record Analysis

ObjectiveOlder adults with dementia are at higher risk for sustaining hip fracture and their long-term health outcomes after surgery are usually worse than those without dementia. Widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) may allow hospitals to better monitor long-term health outcomes in patients with dementia after hospitalization. This study aimed to (1) estimate how dementia influences discharge location, mortality, and readmission 180 days and 1 year after hip fracture surgery in older adults, and (2) demonstrate the feasibility of using selection-bias reduced EHR data for research and long-term health outcomes monitoring.DesignRetrospective observational cohort study using EHRs.Setting and ParticipantsA cohort of 1171 patients over age 65 years who had an initial hip fracture surgery between October 2015 and December 2018 was extracted from EHRs of one health system; 376 of these patients had dementia.MethodsLogistic regression was applied to estimate influences of dementia on discharge disposition and Cox proportional hazards model for mortality. The Fine and Gray regression model was used to analyze readmission, accounting for the competing risk of death. To reduce selection bias in EHRs, inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity scores was implemented before modeling.ResultsDementia had significant impacts on all outcomes: being discharged to facilities [odds ratio (OR) = 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–3.74], 180-day mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.69, 95% CI 1.20–2.38], 1-year mortality (HR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.33–2.38), 180-day readmission (HR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.39–1.89), and 1 year readmission (HR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.21–1.58).Conclusions and ImplicationsDementia was a significant risk factor for worse long-term outcomes. The inverse probability of treatment weighting approach can be used to reduce selection bias in EHR data for research and monitoring long-term health outcomes in the target population. Such monitoring could foster collaborations with post-acute and long-term health care services to improve recovery outcomes in patients with dementia after hip fracture surgery.     

Continuity of care and its effect on readmissions for COPD patients: A comparative study of Norway and Germany

BackgroundThis study compares continuity of care between Germany – a social health insurance country, and Norway – a national health service country with gatekeeping and patient lists for COPD patients before and after initial hospitalization. We also investigate how subsequent readmissions are affected.MethodsContinuity of Care Index (COCI), Usual Provider Index (UPC) and Sequential Continuity Index (SECON) were calculated using insurance claims and national register data (2009–14). These indices were used in negative binomial and logistic regressions to estimate incident rate ratios (IRR) and odds ratios (OR) for comparing readmissions.ResultsAll continuity indices were significantly lower in Norway. One year readmissions were significantly higher in Germany, whereas 30-day rates were not. All indices measured one year after discharge were negatively associated with one-year readmissions for both countries. Significant associations between indices measured before hospitalization and readmissions were only observed in Norway – all indices for one-year readmissions and SECON for 30-day readmissions.ConclusionOur findings indicate higher continuity is associated with reductions in readmissions following initial COPD admission. This is observed both before and after hospitalization in a system with gatekeeping and patient lists, yet only after for a system lacking such arrangements. These results emphasize the need for policy strategies to further investigate and promote care continuity in order to reduce hospital readmission burden for COPD patients.     

A Nurse-Led Bridging Program to Reduce 30-Day Readmissions of Older Patients Discharged From Acute Care Units

ObjectivesOlder hospitalized patients are at high risk of early readmissions, requiring the implementation of enhanced coordinated transition programs on discharge. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led transition bridging program on the rate of unscheduled readmissions of older patients within 30 days from discharge from geriatric acute care units.DesignA stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.Setting and ParticipantsSeven hundred five patients aged ≥75 years hospitalized in one of 10 acute geriatric units, with at least 2 readmission risk-screening criteria (derived from the Triage Risk Screening Tool), were included from July 2015 to August 2016.MethodsThe intervention condition consisted in a nurse-led hospital-to-home bridging program with 4 weeks postdischarge follow-up (2 home visits and 2 telephone calls). Unscheduled hospital readmission or emergency department (ED) visits were compared in intervention and control condition within 30 days from discharge.ResultsThe rate of 30-day readmission or ED visit was 15.5% in the intervention condition vs 17.6% in the control condition [hazard ratio stratified on clusters: 0.61 (upper limit unilateral 95% confidence interval = 1.11), P = .09]. Rate of presence of professional caregivers was increased in the intervention condition (P < .001).Conclusions and ImplicationsAlthough the intervention resulted in an increase in the rate of implementation of a package of care at the 4-week of follow-up, we could not demonstrate a reduction in the rate of 30-day readmissions or ED visits of older patients at risk of readmission. These findings support the evaluation of this type of program on the longer term.     

Risk of 30-Day Hospital Readmission Among Patients Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities: Development and Validation of a Risk-Prediction Model

Objectives

Patients discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for post-acute care have a high risk of hospital readmission. We aimed to develop and validate a risk-prediction model to prospectively quantify the risk of 30-day hospital readmission at the time of discharge to a SNF.