Using data from BlueCross BlueShield plans in eight states, the researchers reviewed records of 10,882 patients who underwent colorectal surgery from 2002-2008. They found that 11.4 percent of patients were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge and another 12 percent were readmitted between 31-90 days. Notably, they also found nearly 7 percent were readmitted at least twice within the first three months after discharge.
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Nationwide, these findings account for $300 million in readmission costs annually for colorectal surgery alone. The most common reason for returning to the hospital was complications from surgical-site infections, which are likely preventable, the researchers said. Nearly 19 percent of patients in the study contracted a surgical-site infection within 30 days of their operations.
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