Yale study identifies ways to prevent Medicare patient readmission

Published: Tuesday, July 16, 2013  By Register Staff / NEW HAVEN — A study led by Yale University researchers has identified ways to avoid readmission of Medicare patients to hospitals, which happens within one month for one out of five patients.

Previous studies have found that 20 percent of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, although not always for the reason they went to the hospital in the first place.  Such readmissions cost $15 billion in taxpayer dollars, according to a press release, but six strategies can reduce the number. However, only 30 percent of 600 hospitals surveyed were taking those measures, the release said.  Read more