Dataset Information

Towards a patient journey perspective on causes of unplanned readmissions using a classification framework: results of a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several literature reviews have been published focusing on the prevalence and/or preventability of hospital readmissions. To our knowledge, none focused on the different causes which have been used to evaluate the preventability of readmissions. Insight into the range of causes is crucial to understand the complex nature of readmissions. We conducted a systematic review to: (1) evaluate the range of causes of unplanned readmissions in a patient journey, and (2) present a cause classification framework that can support future readmission studies.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in PUBMED and EMBASE using "readmission" and "avoidability" or "preventability" as key terms. Studies that specified causes of unplanned readmissions were included. The causes were classified into eight preliminary root causes: Technical, Organization (integrated care), Organization (hospital department level), Human (care provider), Human (informal caregiver), Patient (self-management), Patient (disease), and Other. The root causes were based on expert opinions and the root cause analysis tool of PRISMA (Prevention and Recovery Information System for Monitoring and Analysis). The range of different causes were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

Results

Forty-five studies that reported 381 causes of readmissions were included. All studies reported causes related to organization of care at the hospital department level. These causes were often reported as preventable. Twenty-two studies included causes related to patient's self-management and 19 studies reported causes related to patient's disease. Studies differed in which causes were seen as preventable or unpreventable. None reported causes related to technical failures and causes due to integrated care issues were reported in 18 studies.

Conclusions

This review showed that causes for readmissions were mainly evaluated from a hospital perspective. However, causes beyond the scope of the hospital can also play a major role in unplanned readmissions. Opinions regarding preventability seem to depend on contextual factors of the readmission. This study presents a cause classification framework that could help future readmission studies to gain insight into a broad range of causes for readmissions in a patient journey.

SUBMITTER: Singotani RG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6778387 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Towards a patient journey perspective on causes of unplanned readmissions using a classification framework: results of a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

Singotani R G RG Karapinar F F Brouwers C C Wagner C C de Bruijne M C MC

BMC medical research methodology 20191004 1

<h4>Background</h4>Several literature reviews have been published focusing on the prevalence and/or preventability of hospital readmissions. To our knowledge, none focused on the different causes which have been used to evaluate the preventability of readmissions. Insight into the range of causes is crucial to understand the complex nature of readmissions. We conducted a systematic review to: (1) evaluate the range of causes of unplanned readmissions in a patient journey, and (2) present a cause ...[more]

PMID: 31585528

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Project description:Background and objectivesPatients on hemodialysis have high 30-day unplanned readmission rates. Using a national all-payer administrative database, we describe the epidemiology of 30-day unplanned readmissions in patients on hemodialysis, determine concordance of reasons for initial admission and readmission, and identify predictors for readmission.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsThis is a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Readmission Database from the year 2013 to identify index admissions and readmission in patients with ESRD on hemodialysis. The Clinical Classification Software was used to categorize admission diagnosis into mutually exclusive clinically meaningful categories and determine concordance of reasons for admission on index hospitalizations and readmissions. Survey logistic regression was used to identify predictors of at least one readmission.ResultsDuring 2013, there were 87,302 (22%) index admissions with at least one 30-day unplanned readmission. Although patient and hospital characteristics were statistically different between those with and without readmissions, there were small absolute differences. The highest readmission rate was for acute myocardial infarction (25%), whereas the lowest readmission rate was for hypertension (20%). The primary reasons for initial hospitalization and subsequent 30-day readmission were discordant in 80% of admissions. Comorbidities that were associated with readmissions included depression (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.05 to 1.15; P<0.001), drug abuse (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.31 to 1.51; P<0.001), and discharge against medical advice (odds ratio, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.45 to 1.70; P<0.001). A group of high utilizers, which constituted 2% of the population, was responsible for 20% of all readmissions.ConclusionsIn patients with ESRD on hemodialysis, nearly one quarter of admissions were followed by a 30-day unplanned readmission. Most readmissions were for primary diagnoses that were different from initial hospitalization. A small proportion of patients accounted for a disproportionate number of readmissions.

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Project description:In the United States, national efforts to reduce hospital readmissions have been enacted, including the application of substantial insurance reimbursement penalties for hospitals with elevated rates. Readmissions after severe sepsis remain understudied and could possibly signify lapses in care and missed opportunities for intervention. We sought to characterize 7- and 30-day readmission rates following hospital admission for severe sepsis as well as institutional variations in readmission.Retrospective analysis of 345,657 severe sepsis discharges from University HealthSystem Consortium hospitals in 2012.United States.We applied the commonly cited method described by Angus et al for identification of severe sepsis, including only discharges with sepsis present at admission.None.We identified unplanned, all-cause readmissions within 7 and 30 days of discharge using claims-based algorithms. Using mixed-effects logistic regression, we determined factors associated with 30-day readmission. We used risk-standardized readmission rates to assess institutional variations. Among 216,328 eligible severe sepsis discharges, there were 14,932 readmissions within 7 days (6.9%; 95% CI, 6.8-7.0) and 43,092 within 30 days (19.9%; 95% CI, 19.8-20.1). Among those readmitted within 30 days, 66.9% had an infection and 40.3% had severe sepsis at readmission. Patient severity, length of stay, and specific diagnoses were associated with increased odds of 30-day readmission. Observed institutional 7-day readmission rates ranged from 0% to 12.3%, 30-day rates from 3.6% to 29.1%, and 30-day risk-standardized readmission rates from 14.1% to 31.1%. Greater institutional volume, teaching status, trauma services, location in the Northeast, and lower ICU rates were associated with poor risk-standardized readmission rate performance.Severe sepsis readmission places a substantial burden on the healthcare system, with one in 15 and one in five severe sepsis discharges readmitted within 7 and 30 days, respectively. Hospitals and clinicians should be aware of this important sequela of severe sepsis.

Dataset Information

Towards a patient journey perspective on causes of unplanned readmissions using a classification framework: results of a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Towards a patient journey perspective on causes of unplanned readmissions using a classification framework: results of a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

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