A recent study found that measures of physical function, such as grip strength and gait speed, are strongly associated with hospital readmission risk.
CMOs looking to reduce costly hospital readmissions should pay closer attention to their patients’ physical activity in the hospital.
According to recent research, physical function impairments can help predict the risk of readmission. Addressing them could help healthcare leaders reduce readmissions within 30 days—and the reimbursement penalties of up to 3% that can come from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for those returning patients.
"If you talk to CFOs, they will tell you that the margins are thin in treating Medicare patients, and it is hard to give back 3% of your reimbursement," says John Romano, acting CMO of Fremont, California-based Washington Health.
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Christopher Cheney is the CMO editor at HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Readmissions pose a significant economic burden for hospitals, including a reimbursement penalty for Medicare patients who are readmitted within 30 days.
Physical function should be treated like a vital sign, with routine assessment during a patient's hospitalization.