Can we predict Acute Medical readmissions using the BOOST tool? A retrospective case note review.

Link to article at PubMed

Can we predict Acute Medical readmissions using the BOOST tool? A retrospective case note review.

Acute Med. 2016;15(3):119-123

Authors: Lee GA, Freedman D, Beddoes P, Lyness E, Nixon I, Srivastava V

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Readmissions within 30-days of hospital discharge are a problem. The aim was to determine if the Better Outcomes for Older Adults through Safe Transitions (BOOST) risk assessment tool was applicable within the UK.
METHODS: Patients over 65 readmitted were identified retrospectively via a casenote review. BOOST assessment was applied with 1 point for each risk factor.
RESULTS: 324 patients were readmitted (mean age 77 years) with a median of 7 days between discharge and readmission. The median BOOST score was 3 (IQR 2-4) with polypharmacy evident in 88% and prior hospitalisation in 70%. The tool correctly predicted 90% of readmissions using two or more risk factors and 99.1% if one risk factor was included.
CONCLUSION: The BOOST assessment tool appears appropriate in predicting readmissions however further analysis is required to determine its precision.

PMID: 27759745 [PubMed - in process]

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