In total, 46 organizations participated in the 18-month Preventing Avoidable Episodes Project, which was a regional collaborative designed to reduce readmissions, improve transitions of care and increase patient and physician engagement.
By the end of the program, 29 Philadelphia-area hospitals significantly improved implementation of 21 out of 28 proven strategies to enhance transitions of care and prevent hospital readmissions. The aforementioned 7 percent reduction in quarterly 30-day hospital readmission rates translated to 400 patients who avoided being rehospitalized and more than $3.8 million in savings.
According to findings from pre- and post-project surveys, hospitals adopted many measures and strategies to prevent hospital readmissions. For instance, almost all hospitals now coordinate with patients while they are still in the hospital to make follow-up physician appointments.
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