Doctors' group cuts readmissions by examining patients in homes

Three cheers for the old-fashioned house call. CareMore Medical Group in Downey, CA, thought too many of its seniors were returning to the hospital within just one week of discharge. So it set up a pilot program under which medical residents visited vulnerable elderly at home. The results were stunning. The program has cut readmissions occurring within one week to 16% in May 2000 from 53% the previous May.