title: Reducing the rate of rehospitalization from postacute care: a quality improvement project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate rehospitalizations and develop a strategy to reduce the number of individuals sent back to the hospital within 30 days of admission from postacute care services including skilled care, long-term care, and home care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) format outlined by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, we implemented and evaluated a quality improvement project.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of rehospitalizations was calculated and chart audit was used to determine the reasons. Interventions were designed to decrease the number of reasons individuals had to return to the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five rehospitalizations were deemed preventable. Interventions were designed to improve staff knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of interventions and rehospitalization rates continue to be monitored. The rehospitalization rates from these agencies are low. Low rehospitalization rates are good for clients and improve desirability as a source for care posthospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding causes for rehospitalization, providing skills and knowledge aimed at the root causes of hospitalization, and reducing the rate of rehospitalization improves nursing practice and reimbursement.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA; Jewish Geriatric Services, Longmeadow, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacelon
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D009731:Nursing Audit; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Rehospitalization; home health care; long-term care; skilled care