Retrospective analysis of emergency readmissions to rural and regional hospitals
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Background: According to the evidence, hospital readmissions within a month of discharge occur in approximately one-third of older patients and that the majority of readmissions are preventable. Missing medication information at discharge was identified as a contributor to hospital readmissions. Aim: To identify unplanned readmissions within 28 days of hospital discharge attributable to medications; to assess preventability; and in the medication-related readmissions to identify the medication management information supplied to the GP on initial discharge and whether these patients were seen by a pharmacist during the initial stay and readmission. Method: Records were analysed of patients who had an unplanned readmission within 28 days of discharge, aged 65 years and over, and on 3 or more medications at the time of discharge. A documented method developed for measuring causality, preventability and contribution of medications to the readmission was utilised. Results: 170 patients from 1 regional and 2 rural hospitals were included in the analysis. 39 (23%) readmissions were medication related and 34 (87%) of these were preventable. Dominant reasons for readmission were inadequate communication/monitoring (41%) and inappropriate/suboptimal pharmacological therapy at discharge (62%). Conclusion: Gaps in communicating medication management information across the hospital–community interface continue to contribute to avoidable unplanned readmissions.
Journal
Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research
Publication Name
N/A
Volume
41
ISBN/ISSN
1445-937X
Edition
N/A
Issue
4
Pages Count
5
Location
N/A
Publisher
Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
N/A