Health Information Management

News: HospitalCompare lists readmission 'worsts'

CDI Strategies, September 15, 2011

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Being described as "worse" in a CMS HospitalCompare data file is a dubious distinction. 

A recent HospitalCompare list identifies 292 hospitals with 30-day readmission rates that are the highest in the nation in at least one of three disease categories— acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and congestive heart failure—over three years.
 
The 4,627 hospitals listed include 54 that are "worse" in two categories and seven hospitals that are "worse" in all three categories. More than a third of the hospitals listed had too few cases to be scored. Readmission rates are as high as 33.8%.
 
These hospitals aren’t necessarily those that will incur financial penalties for ranking among the top 25% in readmissions beginning October 1, 2012. However, this information can help organizations predict their chances of reduced Medicare reimbursement. The data tables should help organizations determine whether they need to address this problem and reverse this trend.
 
Editor’s note: The previous article is adapted from HealthLeaders Media, a sister publication.



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