Causes of unplanned hospital admissions: implications for practice and policy.
Unplanned hospitalizations among home health patients were reviewed to identify preventable hospital admissions and their causes. Study methods included treatment record review; interviews with home health visit staff, supervisors, and managers; and review of orientation materials and policies. Findings from this study suggest focus areas for home health agencies and other stakeholders to reduce acute care hospitalization rates and in other quality improvement initiatives.
HealthInsight, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. msilver@healthinsight.org
Michael P
MP
Silver
Robert J
RJ
Ferry
Cher
C
Edmonds
D000208:Acute Disease; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015984:Causality; D004630:Emergencies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014589:Utah; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000458:organization & administration