Letters
Readmission rates
Readmission rates reflect how well whole health and social care systems function
BMJ 2014; 348 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g1150 (Published 29 January 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g1150- David Oliver, visiting professor of medicine for older people1
- 1City University London, London EC1V 0HB, UK
- David.Oliver.1{at}city.ac.uk
These articles on readmission are based on a flawed premise—that readmissions are a marker of the quality of care in acute hospitals.1 2 3 Of course, patients are sometimes sent home unwell and prematurely, or with complications caused by hospital admission. But readmissions usually occur because4:
A new illness occurs, unrelated to the first admission
The patient has a long term condition, such as cardiac failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which relapses
The hospital, wanting …
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