Project BOOST: Effectiveness of a multihospital effort to reduce rehospitalization.

Link to article at PubMed

Project BOOST: Effectiveness of a multihospital effort to reduce rehospitalization.

J Hosp Med. 2013 Jul 22;

Authors: Hansen LO, Greenwald JL, Budnitz T, Howell E, Halasyamani L, Maynard G, Vidyarthi A, Coleman EA, Williams MV

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rehospitalization is a prominent target for healthcare quality improvement and performance-based reimbursement. The generalizability of existing evidence on best practices is unknown.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Project BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older adults through Safe Transitions) on rehospitalization rates and length of stay.
DESIGN: Semicontrolled pre-post study.
SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Volunteer sample of 11 hospitals varying in geography, size, and academic affiliation.
INTERVENTION: Hospitals implemented Project BOOST-recommended tools supported by an external quality improvement physician mentor.
METHODS: Pre-post changes in readmission rates and length of stay within BOOST units, and between BOOST units and site-designated control units.
RESULTS: The average rate of 30-day rehospitalization in BOOST units was 14.7% prior to implementation and 12.7% 12 months later (P = 0.010), reflecting an absolute reduction of 2% and a relative reduction of 13.6%. Rehospitalization rates for matched control units were 14.0% in the preintervention period and 14.1% in the postintervention period (P = 0.831). The mean absolute reduction in readmission rates in BOOST units compared to control units was 2.0% (P = 0.054 for signed rank test comparing differences in readmission rate reduction in BOOST units compared to site-matched control units).
CONCLUSIONS: Participation in Project BOOST appeared to be associated with a decrease in readmission rates. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine.

PMID: 23873709 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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