Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
12-3-2012
Abstract
Presented at: ASHP Mid-Year Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas.
Introduction & Background
Current Trends1
•Approximately 19.6% of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days
•These readmissions accounted for $15 billion of Medicare spending in 2009
Changes Coming
•As part of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare will not be reimbursing hospitals for patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge
•Hospitals have already begun improving discharge protocols to provide a greater continuity of care and minimize the financial loss of future readmissions
A Model2
•Boston University Medical Center's Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) was the first program to improve discharge protocols.
•RED documented lower readmission rates with enhanced discharge medication counseling and reducing the time between discharge and outpatient physician follow up
Changing the Standard of Care
•Using RED as a model, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital began its own multidisciplinary patient education and post-discharge follow-up program
•The hospital began with heart failure patients, since this disease state has one of the highest readmission rates
Recommended Citation
Favatella, PharmD Candidate 2013, Joseph and Heil, PharmD, BCPS, Joanne, "Heart Failure Transition of Care Program: The Pharmacist’s role in reducing readmissions" (2012). College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers. Paper 12.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/pharmacyfp/12
