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Hospital readmission in heart failure, a novel analysis of a longstanding problem

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Abstract

Acute decompensated heart failure is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the USA. It is the most common reason for admission in the Medicare population and the greatest cause of hospital readmission in both medical and surgical patients. As many of these readmissions are considered preventable, providers and hospital systems are seeking novel strategies to reduce rehospitalization. Several specific interventions have been shown to decrease readmission for heart failure. However, these are typically narrow in scope, focusing on one aspect of patient care and providing a one-size-fits-all approach. We review the data and propose integrating some of these interventions into a comprehensive patient-centered model that is organized into six categories: quality of medical management, early reassessment, health literacy, neuropsychological status, financial means and functional status. By screening for deficiencies in each of these categories, providers and hospital systems can use resources more efficiently to make targeted interventions to improve health outcomes and mitigate readmissions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Karen Mack and Cindy Bither for their assistance with the preparation of the manuscript.

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The authors have no financial disclosures to report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Brett W. Sperry

  2. MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA

    George Ruiz & Samer S. Najjar

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Correspondence to Brett W. Sperry.

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Sperry, B.W., Ruiz, G. & Najjar, S.S. Hospital readmission in heart failure, a novel analysis of a longstanding problem. Heart Fail Rev 20, 251–258 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-014-9459-2

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