While CMS data on readmissions and complications is intended to make hospital quality transparent, hospital officials caution that the data is more complicated than it appears at first glance. High readmissions, which may be caused by medical errors and poor care, can also reflect sicker patient populations, more cautious care and even more scrupulous record-keeping, according to the report.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
Abington (Pa.) Memorial Hospital Chief of Orthopedics Andrew Star, MD, voiced concerns that the readmissions data did not reflect the main outcome of joint replacement: improved patient mobility. “My concern with using readmission as a criteria is it doesn’t really measure patient outcome per se. It’s more of a financial parameter,” he said to The Inquirer.
More Articles on Quality:
ACC’s “Hospital to Home” Initiative Reduces Readmissions, But Slowly
Secondhand Smoke Raises Readmission Risk for Children Admitted With Asthma
6 Statistics on SSI Readmissions Following Hip, Knee Replacement
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
