UCLA study reports hospital policy increases readmission rates

Following surgery, as their condition improve, patients are frequently referred by hospitals to inpatient facilities such as skilled nursing homes, inpatient rehabilitation centers, home healthcare and other outpatient services. A new UCLA study, published in the February 2016 edition of the journal Medical Care, has found that frequent use of post-acute care associated with higher hospital readmission rates; thus, increasing the healthcare costs. The researchers found that spending on post-acute care varies widely across different parts of the U.S., suggesting that medical centers in some areas may be using these services too infrequently and others may be using them more often than necessary.