Hospital readmissions affect 20 percent of patients. Learn about the 4 top causes of hospital readmission and how you can reduce your risk of readmission.
1. Lack of Adequate Follow-Up Care
IN THIS ARTICLE
If you have a planned hospital stay, talk to your primary care physician and healthcare team about your discharge plan. Will you need physical therapy? Will you need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)? What limitations will you experience after surgery, if any? Once you have that information, ask the hospital case manager for referrals. Make sure to schedule appointments in advance, if possible. It may be helpful to have a family member or caregiver help you organize appointments.
If your hospital stay is not planned, you can still be proactive about scheduling your follow-up care. Again, it may be helpful to enlist the help of loved ones or caregivers to schedule appointments and arrange care. A private duty nurse from NurseRegistry may be a valuable addition to your post-hospital recovery team.
We offer a full range of services, including:
- Medication management and administration
- Pain and symptom management
- Surgical site monitoring
- Wound care, including dressing changes
- Patient, family and caregiver education
- Instructions on new medical devices and equipment
- Case management
- Other services that may improve overall comfort of client
2. Misunderstanding Discharge Information
Patients and their families are bombarded with a lot information at the time of discharge. It can be overwhelming. Our nurses can review discharge information with the patient and caregiver to ensure everyone understands the best plan of action for follow-up care.
3. Unorganized Medication
After surgery, your doctor may prescribe new medications. It’s important to review and organize your medications, as well as check for any potential drug interactions.
NurseRegistry offers a full range of services, including wellness checks and medication management. Our nurses can:
- Reconcile and organize medications
- Develop medication regimen and checklist
- Reorder medications as needed
- Check labels and expiration dates
- Warn patient or caregiver about potential interactions
4. Lack of Proper Communication
Many people may be involved in one person’s recovery care. It can become tiresome coordinating all of the moving parts. At NurseRegistry, our RN Care Managers can help ensure proper communication between the patient and their healthcare team.
A Nurse Case Manager from NurseRegistry can assist with:
- Communication will all members of a patient’s healthcare team
- Scheduling of and accompaniment to healthcare appointments
- Coordination with family, caregivers, and other medical providers
Do you or a loved one have a planned hospital stay coming up? Call NurseRegistry at (650) 462-1001 to discuss your options for follow-up care.
For a limited time, download your free Hospital Discharge Guide and Discharge Planning Checklist (Medication Management Worksheet and Appointment Organizer included).
