Implementation of the Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) toolkit to decrease all-cause readmission rates at a rural...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality improvement
• Patient discharge management

Background:

• National hospital readmission rates average 19%, with one in five Medicare patients readmitted within 30 days, costing $17.5 billion annually.
• High readmission rates indicate a need for improved discharge processes to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare expenditures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To redesign the hospital discharge process using established methodologies like Project Re-engineered Discharge (RED).
• To decrease 30-day all-cause hospital readmission rates.
• To increase patient and family involvement in the discharge planning and execution.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Joint Commission Resources-Hospital Engagement Network and Project RED methodology.
• Incorporated the After Hospital Care Plan and patient discharge questionnaires.
• Monitored monthly readmission rates and patient/family involvement for 336 patients over four months in a rural community hospital.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 32% reduction in readmissions during the four-month project (7.12% rate).
• Demonstrated an overall monthly reduction of 27% from baseline, and a 44% reduction compared to the previous six months.
• Reported positive patient and family perceptions of the redesigned discharge process.

Conclusions:

• The redesigned discharge process effectively reduced hospital readmissions.
• Enhanced patient and family engagement is crucial for successful discharge and improved outcomes.
• The Project RED methodology provides a framework for sustainable quality improvement in discharge planning.