What does hospital readmission refer to?

Hospital readmission refers to the process in which a patient is admitted to a hospital soon after they have been discharged from a previous hospitalization. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as complications related to the original illness, inadequate follow-up care, or lack of proper post-discharge support. Readmissions can have significant implications for healthcare systems, as they may indicate issues with the quality of care received during the initial hospitalization or the effectiveness of transition processes after discharge.

Understanding hospital readmissions is crucial for healthcare providers and insurers, as frequent readmissions may lead to increased healthcare costs and can affect patient outcomes. In the context of health insurance, managing readmissions is often a priority, as plans aim to improve care coordination and reduce overall healthcare expenditure.