Overview of Hospital Readmission Reduction Programs: Relevance to Rehabilitation Providers

Course overview

Hospital readmissions have become an important patient, hospital, and health care issue. Ideal care transition models have been proposed but do not include rehabilitation therapists. Physical function is independently associated with hospital readmission risk, yet little evidence links rehabilitation to reduced readmissions. This overview course will frame the problem of hospital readmissions, present current care transition models, and then outline risk factors for readmissions. Lastly, we will propose how rehab professionals can fit into efforts to reduce readmissions and improve care transitions.