According to a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, one in seven patients who have undergone a major procedure were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. While some readmissions cannot be avoided – for example, an individual contracts an unrelated illness – others may be preventable.
One of the most common reasons why older adults find themselves in the hospital again is because of the lack of information exchanged between caregivers and hospital officials. A Consumer Reports article explored what patients can do to reduce their chances of being readmitted to the hospital. Some of the points that are relevant to caregivers we've detailed below:
- Confirm that the care recipient is ready to go home – Consumer Reports notes that hospitals and insurance companies have strong financial incentives to send patients home as soon as possible. If your loved one is feeling unsteady, cannot eat or control basic bodily functions, meet with hospital officials or the hospital's patient advocate to keep the care recipient in the hospital.
- Meet with a discharge planner – The care recipient and anyone responsible for their day-to-day well-being will need to meet with a hospital representative at least one day before their release. This individual will also be the one to communicate discharge plans to the care recipient's primary physician.
- Obtain full discharge instructions – You will need clear instructions about what needs to be done once the individual leaves the hospital. Also request a list of medications that will need to be administered outside of the hospital and information about monitoring and possible interactions.
Independa's telecare solutions provide a cost-effective way to reduce the risk of readmission. Our easy-to-use Caregiver Web Application can help professionals and family caregivers enhance the quality of life of care recipients.
