A January 22, 2017 JAMA article examined the readmission rate and costs of patients discharged with a diagnosis of sepsis. The study examined the 30-day readmission rates. Currently, CMS tracks readmissions following index hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia Although previously unstudied, the authors hypothesized that… Read More
A study in Journal of Hospital Medicine, hospitalist Daniel J. Brotman, MD, and his colleagues examined nearly 4,500 acute-care hospitals’ hospital-wide readmission rates and compared them with those hospitals’ mortality rates in six areas used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: heart attack, pneumonia, heart failure, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and coronary… Read More
Over the past decade hospitals have increasingly decided to employ physicians. In 2003, hospitals employed about 29% of physicians and that has dramatically increased to 42% of hospitals in 2012. Hospitals argued that this would increase productivity and was needed to coordinate care and improve quality. A study in the September 20, 2016 issue of… Read More
5.8 Million people in the U.S. suffer from CHF and this accounts for over 1 million hospitalizations a year. Rehospitalization rates approach 30% at 90 days. The costs to treat heart failure are over $37 Billion a year. The majority of the costs of heart failure come from hospitalizations and repeat hospitalizations. Hospitalizations account for… Read More
This is an article in the February 20,2016 Daily Republic that features Medic Ambulance’s Community Paramedicine Integrated Healthcare Program that is one of the 12 California Pilot Programs. This program looks at post hospital discharge of patients with pneumonia, COPD and CHF and works to keep them from having to return to the hospital VACAVILLE… Read More
