Complimentary from the publishers of ReadmissionsNews                    March 14, 2012
	"Thirty days is a reasonable time frame for hospitals to implement a safe plan in order to prevent hospital readmissions. Experts have agreed that this time frame is enough to ensure appropriate discharge planning for the patients and effective communication with the primary care providers to avoid fragmentation of care upon discharge. One of the major causes for hospital re-admissions is loss to follow up. The 30-day time frame provides an opportunity for inpatient providers and hospitals to arrange medicine reconciliation and timely follow up for patients after discharge." Suheir Khajuria, MD, MPH, Resident Physician, New Hanover Resident Medical Center
	For patients hospitalized in the 15 observed states in 2008, the rate of 30-day readmissions following a surgical hospitalization varied from 6.1% to 19.1% across payer and age groups. Readmission rates were consistently higher for non-surgical hospitalizations, varying from 8.6% to 28.4% across payer and age groups ” Excerpted from: HCUP Statistical Brief #127. February 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
	Readmission rates higher with chronic conditions FierceHealthcare, March 8, 2012
	Hospitals to face fines for repeat patients Omaha World Herald, March 7, 2012
	Telemonitoring System Reduced Readmission Rates, Evaluation Finds iHealthBeat, March 6, 2012
	Health IT company adds new features to software that reduces hospital readmissions MedCity News, March 2, 2012
	Hospital Readmissions Study Shows Favorable Medicare Advantage Quality Outcomes PRNewswire, February 28, 2012
	Nursing Home Trade Group Unveils Quality Initiative to Reduce Hospital Readmissions Senior Housing News, February 23, 2012
	Results of National Study to Reduce Hospital Readmissions Announced PRNewswire, February 22, 2012
	New program decreases heart failure readmissions KHAS-TV, February 20, 2012
	Developing Strategies for the Readmission of Homeless Patients by Harry C. Fader Readmissions: Care Management Potential at the Intersection of Quality and Cost by Randall Krakauer, MD; Thomas Claffey, MD; and J. William Wulf, MD Editor’s Corner - Molly Joel Coye, MD, MPH Researchers Confirm Utility of ‘Morbidity Trajectories,’ Question Readmission Predictions Thought Leader’s Corner: "CMS is now publicly reporting 30-day readmission rates for hospitals across the nation. Do you agree with this timeframe?" Industry News with briefs regarding Geisinger Health Plan, Home Care Assistance, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Intuitive Health, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, LCH Group Inc. and Baptist Health System, American Health Care Association, and HFMA Catching Up with…. H. Joanna Jiang, PhD Click here to view page one of this issue Click here to subscribe to Readmissions News, or find out more
	There's no cost to participate in the Readmissions News LinkedIn Group where you can Network, exchange information, and follow current developments with other professionals interested in management of hospital readmissions. You can sign up now at: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Readmissions-News-4220113?home=&gid=4220113
	Readmissions Bulletin is a complimentary publication issued periodically from the Health Policy Publishing, LLC, the publisher of Readmissions News (www.ReadmissionsNews.com) Your friends and colleagues can subscribe to Readmissions Bulletin at no charge by visiting: www.ReadmissionsNews.com/resources.html