Knowledge is Your Prescription for Staying Out of the Hospital

Understanding the Admissions and Readmissions Cycle

The United States’ health care system is in the process of undergoing many changes because of the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHA) passed in 2010. Since October 2012, the new AHA rules allow Medicare to penalize hospitals for readmitting patients within thirty days of discharge, because most readmissions occur when medical professionals do not fully prepare patients for discharge. In an effort to educate the public about the readmissions cycle, Homewatch CareGivers created Care Navigation Tools, a site with information to help you or a family member successfully transition from the hospital back home.

Patients need to be aware of the multiple aspects of the transition from the hospital back home, and how the correct handling of this transition will affect whether or not there is readmission to the hospital.

Medication mismanagement
Upon discharge, many patients lack crucial information that that helps them re-adjust to home life. In the hospital, a nurse brings you the correct medications at the right time. Back at home, you are responsible for managing your own medication schedule, and this is the biggest area for potential miscommunication between the hospital and the patient. Changes in prescriptions, dosages, and timing of all medications should be reviewed with the discharge staff, and you should have everything in writing to refer to at home. Medication mismanagement alone costs the health care system $100 billion annually, and accounts for 11% of hospital readmissions.

Failing to follow your care plan
The chances are high that your doctor will tell you that you need to make some lifestyle adjustments when you return home. Dietary and exercise recommendations are the most common changes, and these adjustments are your prescribed care plan, to be followed in the same manner that you would take medication to lower your blood pressure. These aren’t merely suggestions—your doctor is prescribing you lifestyle adjustments to improve your quality of life and help you recover! It is imperative that you understand and follow your care plan.

Not enough support for follow-up care
Congratulations! You are home from the hospital! Now your doctor wants to see you in a week for a check-up. Getting to that follow-up appointment is vital, not just a suggestion! But what happens when you are not able to drive yourself, and you don’t have family nearby to help? Reaching out for help can be hard, but is necessary to safeguard your road to recovery!

Falls
Falls are another main cause of hospital readmissions, especially among seniors. Falls often occur when the recovering patient doesn’t have someone to help at home—the patient overextends himself while keeping up with normal daily chores before fully regaining strength. Having caregiver assistance to help out with your everyday routine is a sensible precaution for the first week or two after coming home.

Don’t be embarrassed about getting help!
Because hospitals are being charged by Medicare for readmitting patients within 30-days of discharge, hospitals and health care facilities are partnering up with local health care providers that will help patients successfully manage the transition from hospital to home. These partnerships are designed to provide you with information on:

• Successfully managing your new medications
• Understanding your prescribed care plan
• Assisting you with transportation to the doctor for follow-up appointments
• Lending a helping hand in the house to help prevent falls

Having a family member or a professional caregiver helping you during the transition period will reduce your likelihood for readmission to the hospital, an outcome both you and your doctor want!  

Founded in 1980, Homewatch CareGivers has been delivering exceptional care to the elderly and their families for more than 30 years. Our mission is to preserve dignity, protect independence, and provide peace of mind for clients and their families through exceptional home care services.