In an effort to reduce the high costs of health care, health care executives, physicians, and clinical staff establish guidelines to minimize the rates of readmissions for patients. While certain medical conditions may require that patients are readmitted into health care organizations, for less urgent or extensive medical conditions, ensuring that health care service is administered effectively the first time will go a long way in minimizing readmission. From a financial standpoint, patient readmissions constrict health care services, resources, and staff that would otherwise be used to treat new patient cases. From effective health care delivery, a patient who is readmitted may be an indication of poor quality health care delivery, ineffective process workflows, or inefficient patient care.
For this Assignment, review the resources for this week. Reflect on how health care executives might address the board of directors of a health care organization in order to reduce readmissions. Within the context of Medicare reimbursements, how will reducing readmissions benefit the health care organization?
The Assignment: (2 pages)
- Write a brief to the board of directors explaining how you, as the chief executive of the hospital, would implement strategies to reduce readmissions within the context of Medicare reimbursement. Be specific and provide examples.
Dye, C. F., & Garman, A. N. (2015). Exceptional leadership: 16 critical competencies for healthcare executives. (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
- Chapter 14, “Competency 14: Driving Results” (pp. 157–165)
- Chapter 15, “Competency 15: Stimulating Creativity” (pp. 167–176)
- Chapter 16, “Competency 16: Cultivating Adaptability” (pp. 177–186)
Chernew, M. E. (2016). Payment reform: Two payment models will dominate the move to value-based care. In The Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development of the American Hospital Association (Ed.). (2016). Futurescan healthcare trends and implications: 2017–2022 (pp. 12–15). Health Administration Press.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Reducing readmissions is a crucial aspect of providing effective healthcare services and reducing healthcare costs. This response discusses how a chief executive of a hospital can implement strategies to reduce readmissions within the context of Medicare reimbursement and how it will benefit the healthcare organization.
Answer:
As the chief executive of the hospital, I would recommend the following strategies to reduce readmissions:
1. Implement care transition programs: Care transition programs can help ensure that patients receive appropriate care after being discharged from the hospital. The program should involve follow-up appointments with doctors, medication reconciliation, and communication between hospitals and primary care providers. By implementing this program, we can ensure that patients receive appropriate care even after they leave the hospital, reducing the likelihood of readmission.
2. Enhance patient education: Providing patients with education on their medical condition, medications, and lifestyle changes can help them manage their health better. We can use technology such as patient portals and mobile applications to provide patients with information and resources that can help them understand and manage their health. This education will help patients stay healthy, reducing the need for readmission.
3. Implement staff education and training: We can provide staff with education and training on reducing readmissions by enhancing communication, following proper care procedures, and identifying patients at high risk of readmissions. Educating and training staff will empower them to provide high-quality care, leading to effective health care delivery, reducing readmission rates.
By reducing readmissions, the hospital can benefit from the Medicare Reimbursement program; hospitals with low readmission rates receive monetary incentives and bonuses. This ensures that the hospital always maintains a standard of care in which patients receive effective health care delivery. By focusing on reducing readmissions, we can unlock potential profits as well as create positive feedback loops with patients and insurance providers, minimizing the chances of negative patient experiences.
