title: Hospital initiative reduces heart failure readmissions.
abstract: UConn Health Center/John Dempsey Hospital, Farmington, CT, reduced 30-day heart failure readmissions from 25.1% in August 2010 by analyzing readmissions and looking for ways to improve the discharge process. When patients can't schedule a timely appointment with providers who are not part of the healthcare system, the case manager schedules one appointment with the hospital's heart failure clinic. The team created an easy-to-understand medication booklet, got patient input about which heart failure educational booklet to use, and created a heart failure video for patients, families, and staff. Hospital representatives meet monthly with representatives from post-acute providers to collaborate on improving transitions.
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration; D003237:Connecticut; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058996:Quality Improvement