Patient Safety Update: AHRQ Releases Toolkit to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

Patient Safety Update: AHRQ Releases Toolkit to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

Patient Safety Update: AHRQ Releases Toolkit to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) sent this bulletin at 03/13/2013 04:09 PM EDT AHRQ Releases Toolkit to Reduce Hospital Readmissions
Every year millions of patients are readmitted to hospitals, and many of those stays could have been prevented. The Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) Toolkit, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, can help hospitals reduce readmission rates by replicating the discharge process that resulted in 30 percent fewer hospital readmissions and emergency room visits.  Developed by the Boston University Medical Center, the newly expanded toolkit provides guidance to implement the RED for all patients, including those with limited English proficiency and from diverse cultural backgrounds. By helping hospitals plan and monitor the implementation of the RED process, the toolkit ensures a smooth and effective transition from hospital to home. To download the toolkit, visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/hospital/red/toolkit/index.html. To order copies of the instructional manual, contact the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov or call (800) 358-9295.