Efforts to improve the safety and effectiveness of care transitions are taking place across the country. Selected news items are shown below.
April 2, 2009
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study of Medicare data showing that one in five patients was readmitted within 30 days of leaving the hospital, and half of nonsurgical patients were rehospitalized without seeing a doctor for a follow-up. According to the study, the estimated national cost of unplanned hospital readmissions in 2004 accounted for $17.4 billion of the $102.6 billion total hospital payments made by Medicare that same year.
November 13, 2008
Compared with seven other countries, the U.S. ranks last for access, coordination and safety in healthcare, according to a 2008 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy survey.
More than half (54%) of chronically ill patients in the U.S. did not get recommended care, fill prescriptions, or see a doctor when sick because of costs, compared to 7% and 36% in other countries. About one-third of U.S. patients—a higher rate than any other country—experience poorly coordinated care, such as delays in medical records or duplicated tests.
October 30, 2008
A study published in the October 30 New England Journal of Medicine reveals that patients frequently feel hospitals fall short in addressing basic quality issues, such as controlling pain, communicating about medications, and coordinating discharge planning.
October 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the 14 successful bidders for project contracts focused on improving patient transitions across care settings.
March 2008
Findings support the use of a three-item care transitions measure (CTM) to quantify and publicly report progress on the quality of care transitions. View an abstract of the article and further CTM research.
