Day Kimball Hospital, part of the Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) integrated health system, has learned that of the 26 Connecticut hospitals facing Medicare penalties for high 30-day readmission rates, it has the 5th lowest hospital-wide, 30-day readmission rate in the state according to a recent U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) report.

The CMS Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) was established in 2012 as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and evaluates U.S. hospitals annually on rates of 30-day readmission among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. Financial penalties are imposed on hospitals for excess readmissions when compared to expected levels of readmissions. The current results assess readmission rates from 2015-2018 for six common medical and surgical conditions: heart attack, heart failure, chronic lung disease, pneumonia, coronary bypass surgery and total joint replacements.

Nationally, 83 percent of hospitals evaluated by this program were penalized, with penalties averaging 0.7 percent of Medicare reimbursement, up to 3 percent.

Day Kimball Hospital’s current rate is 0.15%, a 0.49% decrease from the previous year. “This is a testament to the dedication of our care team who strive to ensure that patient care is successfully managed across the continuum,” said Day Kimball Healthcare’s Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs and Quality, John Graham, MD. “Our commitment to quality, patient safety, and high reliability is a top priority at Day Kimball Healthcare,” he said.

Through the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA), Day Kimball participates in the Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN), a national initiative funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that aims to, in part, reduce 30-day hospital readmissions.

“Preventing readmissions is a complex issue that involves hospitals, physicians, and other care providers who manage patient care, as well as patients and their families. Day Kimball remains proactive in this area through various initiatives including a focus on care transitions from hospital to home, enhanced readmission protocols, and addressing social determinants of health which can also contribute to readmissions,” said Dr. Graham.

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Quality & Patient Safety at Day Kimball Healthcare