Individual and Organizational Factors Associated With Hospital Readmission Rates: Evidence From a U.S. National Sample

Abstract

Objective: Hospital readmission rate is an important indicator for assessing quality of care in the acute and postacute settings. Identifying factors that increase risk for hospital readmissions can aid in the recognition of potential targets for quality improvement efforts. The main objective of this brief report was to examine the factors that predict increased risk of 30-day readmissions. Method: We analyzed data from the 2013 National Readmission Database (NRD). Results: The main factors that predicted increased risk of 30-day readmission were number of chronic conditions, severity of illness, mortality risk, and hospital ownership. Unexpectedly, discharge from a for-profit hospital was associated with greater risk for hospital readmission in the United States. Discussion and Conclusion: These findings suggest that patients with severe physical illness and multiple chronic conditions should be the primary targets for hospital transitional care interventions to help reduce the rate of unnecessary hospital readmissions.

Keywords: health services; hospitalizations; readmissions.