Ohio is one of four states participating in the national pilot project called State Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations Initiative, which launched in Ohio in Sept. 2010 and will run until June 2011. In total, 18 Ohio hospitals are participating in the STAAR initiative. Established best practices include identifying patients at risk for readmission; identifying “family helpers” to provide effective education for the patient and family; conducting real-time patient- and family-centered communication; and ensuring timely follow-up after discharge.
Though final results are not yet available, one participating hospital reported a 5 percent drop in readmissions within two months of implementing these best practices, according to the news release.
Read the news release about hospital readmissions in Ohio.
Read other coverage about hospital readmissions:
– Satisfaction Trumps Performance Measures in Lower Readmissions
– Pediatric Readmissions Driven by Small Cohort, Study Says
– Study Finds Black Patients More Prone to Hospital Readmission Than White Patients
