Complimentary from the publishers of ReadmissionsNews                August 15, 2013
	"The interesting feature of ‘improvement’ interventions is that a number of contextual factors, including implementation effectiveness, impact their success. To think that any of the readmissions ‘models’ can be deployed in every setting is unrealistic. Hospitals have discovered that adaptation of practices is central to the likelihood of measurable reduction in readmissions. The second major discovery of the past 2-3 years is that hospital-only interventions are low yield in terms of breakthrough reductions. Some post-hoc analysis of data and tons of experience demonstrate that ‘community’ interventions, in the home or other ambulatory settings, are major drivers to lowering readmission rates. When patients don't get these interventions, whether it is recurrent/dynamic medication reconciliation, social services support, or easy connections with the PCP for example, inpatient only interventions are weak. They are necessary but not sufficient.” Bruce Spurlock, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Convergence Health Consulting, Inc.
	From a total of 2,086 lower extremity arthroplasty procedures performed from January 1st, 2012 to March 8th, 2013, 190 were readmitted within 30 days after the procedure. From these, 150 were unplanned readmissions. The number one cause of unplanned readmissions was infection (superficial or deep) and wound issues (N=60, 2.9% of all procedures). Excerpted from: Readmissions News, Volume 2, Number 8, August 2013, "Strategies to Decrease Readmissions after Joint Arthroplasty"
	Rx to Avoid Health-Law Fines The Wall Street Journal, August 7, 2013
	CMS Responds to 6 Major Critiques of Readmission Measure Becker's Hospital Review, August 7, 2013
	Going Outside the Hospital for Help: How Readmissions Have Been Reduced at El Camino Healthcare Informatics, August 7, 2013
	Discharge calls help nurses affect readmission rates, patient satisfaction Nurse.com, August 5, 2013
	Bigger readmissions fines hit hospitals
	Healthcare IT News, August 5, 2013
	Readmissions Penalties By State: Year Two ‎Kaiser Health News, August 2, 2013
	The New Jersey Readmissions Initiative by Diane Babuin and Ya-ping Su Strategies to Decrease Readmissions after Joint Arthroplasty by Carlos Higuera, MD and Nathan Mesko, MD The Editor’s Corner: Terri Marshall, RN, MS, CCM on How to Stop the Pain The Role of Telehealth in Reducing Readmissions by Stacey Force Thought Leader’s Corner: “Is this Project BOOST glass half full or half empty?” Industry News with briefs regarding Community Care of North Carolina; Juniper Research; Bronx Collaborative; John C. Lincoln Health Network; American Association of Heart Failure Nurses; University of Notre Dame; and JAMA Readmissions Penalties Year Two Click here to view page one of this issue Click here to subscribe to Readmissions News, or find out more
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