The goal is to deliver safe, high-quality health care to patients in all clinical settings. You can use the information in this guide to improve quality of care across settings and at multiple levels in order to avoid readmissions.
Resources and links provide information on these topics:
General Resources on How to Reduce Readmissions
A readmission is any unanticipated hospitalization that occurs following a previous hospital stay. Typically, readmissions are measured 7, 14, 15 or 30 days after discharge from the initial visit. Reducing potentially preventable readmissions is an important step to reducing costs and improving quality of care.
 Learn how health leaders can reduce readmissions 
AHIP report programs reducing readmissions and ED use
 Framework for hospitals to reduce readmissions
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Case Studies and Lessons Learned
As hospitals continue to implement programs to reduce readmissions, they have documented their experiences and identified lessons learned in the process.
Lessons from top-performing hospitals on reducing readmissions
Case study with tips to reduce readmissions
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As health care costs rise and concerns about quality of care grows, hospitals have identified and adopted many strategies to help reduce readmissions.
AcademyHealth report on best practices to reduce readmissions
A survey of published evidence on interventions to reduce readmissions
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Medication reconciliation
Medication reconciliation is the process of comparing a patient's medication orders to all of the medications the patient is taking. Reconciliation helps avoid medication errors such as omissions, duplications, dosage errors, or drug interactions that may result in readmissions.
Strategies for reconciling medications at admission
AMA guide for physicians for medication reconciliation
Comprehensive toolkit on medication reconciliation
Training and template materials for medication reconciliation
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Discharge process
The hospital discharge process is a multi-faceted process, often fragmented and non-standardized. Improving this process can reduce adverse events, medical errors and readmission rates.
Learn how improving the discharge process reduces readmissions
Project RED toolkit to help hospitals re-engineer the discharge process
Discharge planning checklist for patients and hospital staff
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Care transitions and Coordination of Care
Effective care transitions ensure coordination and continuity of health care from one setting to another. Poorly managed transitions frequently lead to hospital readmissions, medication errors, and avoidable ED visits.
Toolkit to improve hospital systems and reduce readmissions
Learn more about opportunities to improve care transitions
NQF report on care coordination practices and measurement
Comprehensive website with links to resources and tools for providers to improve care transitions
Toolkit to improve care transitions in your community
Tools to improve transitions using "transition coaches"
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Patient Communication and Education
Effective provider-patient communication is key to improving patient outcomes and reducing readmissions.
Tips to help providers communicate well with patients before discharge
Discharge patient-education tool that providers can give to their patients to help them understand their treatment after discharge
Learn how to enhance patient education and reduce readmissions
Study on the usefulness of whiteboards as a communication tool in hospitals
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Additional Resources on Readmissions
Links to other useful and interesting resources on readmissions.
AHRQ statistical brief on hospital readmissions and ED visits
NEJM study on readmissions among patients in the Medicare fee-for-service program
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