title: Thirty-Day Readmissions After Pneumonia: How Many Are Preventable?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumonia remains a continuing target for performance measurement and quality improvement. The aim of this analysis was to examine 30-day all-cause readmissions after pneumonia to identify reasons for readmission and potential opportunities for improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed on patients readmitted within 30 days after an index pneumonia hospitalization at the University of Connecticut Health Center in 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 54 readmissions involving 40 patients and only five (12.5%) patients had readmissions that were deemed potentially preventable. Reasons for readmissions were CHF exacerbation (3), malnutrition (1), and pericardial tamponade (1). Of the 49 non-preventable readmissions, 16 were related to pneumonia/bronchitis. Four out of 16 had known aspiration risks, while the rest had comorbidities including cystic fibrosis, COPD, CHF, HIV, and sickle cell disease. Other readmissions were secondary to underlying co-morbid conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that most 30-day readmissions after hospitalization for pneumonia may not be preventable.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mutneja
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metersky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000592:standards; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors