Key result
Qualitative interviews link postacute service mismatch, poor communication, and confusing instructions to 30-day readmissions.
Why the study?
Massachusetts has one of the highest rates of 30-day readmissions, and patient-reported factors contributing to readmissions were not well understood.
Observational
No
Patient-reported factors for unplanned readmissions highlight the need for improved communication, better postacute care transitions, and translated written discharge instructions.
May guide discharge planning refinements; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before practice change.
Massachusetts has one of the highest rates of 30-day readmissions in the country. To identify patient-reported factors that may contribute to readmissions, we conducted semi-structured interviews with patients with unplanned readmissions within 30 days of inpatient discharge from the medicine services at an urban medical center between June and August 2016. Interviews with patients and/or proxies were conducted in English, Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese, then translated to English if necessary, transcribed verbatim, and deidentified. A team of four coders conducted the thematic analysis. Most patients did not identify factors associated with readmission beyond their underlying illness; however, a mismatch between the patient's clinical care needs and services available at postacute facilities, as well as poor communication between providers, facilities, and patients/proxies, were identified as contributing factors to readmissions. Non-English speaking patients and their families reported confusion with written discharge instructions, even if an interpreter provided verbal instructions. Patients will benefit from future interventions that aim to improve transfers to postacute care facilities, develop written materials in languages prevalent in the local population, and improve communication among providers, facilities, and patients and their families.
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LeClair et al. (2018) conducted an observational in Unplanned readmissions. Factors contributing to readmissions was evaluated on Patient-reported factors contributing to readmissions. Qualitative interviews identified mismatch between clinical needs and postacute services, poor communication, and confusion with written instructions as key factors contributing to 30-day readmissions.