Reducing 30-Day Readmission Rates through Targeted Population Interventions

Since 2010, the academic medical center has been supporting a program to reduce 30-day all cause readmission rates by targeting efforts on a subset of patient populations each year.

By breaking down the medical centerwide, all-cause readmission rate, they are able to target resources and work to make significant advancements in a relatively short period of time. Each workgroup is managed by the clinical effectiveness department but staffed by the clinical teams that understand these patient populations best. This allows the institution to quickly identify issues with care coordination and understand weaknesses in their current processes. With clinical effectiveness leading the groups, the institution is able to spread successful changes and provide cross-collaboration across workgroups when similar situations arise.

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This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.
Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)