Reflective Practice: A Tool for Readmission Reduction

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Practice Improvement

Background:

• Unidentified local practice factors contribute to hospital readmissions.
• Frontline providers possess unique insights into practice system limitations.
• Reducing 30-day hospital readmissions remains a critical healthcare objective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To decrease 30-day hospital readmissions.
• To identify intrinsic local practice factors influencing readmissions.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of reflective practice by hospitalists.

Main Methods:

• Hospitalists conducted retrospective chart reviews of their own patients' readmissions.
• A chart review tool guided reflective practice.
• Identified factors were categorized into patient characteristics, operational factors, and care transition.

Main Results:

• Physicians implemented earlier follow-up appointments post-reflection.
• Advanced practice providers enhanced discharge instructions.
• A decrease in readmissions was observed during the review period.
• This reduction in readmissions was sustained for one year.

Conclusions:

• Reflective practice by hospitalists effectively identified local factors contributing to readmissions.
• The intervention demonstrated a sustained positive impact on reducing 30-day hospital readmissions.
• Reflective practice is a viable strategy for improving hospital care transitions and patient outcomes.