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
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
