About Us

Medicare patients report a greater dissatisfaction in discharge-related care than in any other aspect of care that CMS measures.¹ This Arizona Campaign seeks to engage hospitals, rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities, hospices, home health agencies, community pharmacies, clinician offices, community-based organizations, and other care providers in a robust, intense 18-month collaborative effort to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions that occur within 30 days of hospital discharge.

Time: January 1, 2012–June 30, 2013
The Number: 4,000 readmissions

Three Goals

1. Prevent 4,000 avoidable readmissions within 30 days of hospital discharge by June 30, 2013. In doing this, we increase patient satisfaction and wellness in the community and reduce costs associated with readmissions.
2. Reduce the overall readmission rate for Medicare beneficiaries by 20 percent (based on claims data from Medicare 2010).
3. Decrease healthcare expenditures related to readmissions. With the estimated average cost of a readmission ranging from $8,000 to $13,000,² there is an opportunity to save tens of millions of dollars in Arizona.

With the average hospital stay of four days, achieving this goal will help 4,000 Arizonans enjoy 16,000 nights of sleep in their own beds because there really is no place like home.

In addition to improving the patient experience and the health of Arizonans, the Campaign has the potential to save tens of millions of dollars, making healthcare more affordable—achieving the Triple Aim identified in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care.

The Campaign recognizes that avoidable hospital readmissions are the result of a fragmented healthcare system. The Campaign will initially recruit hospitals, which will then engage other groups in the care continuum that contribute to avoidable readmissions. The Campaign seeks commitment from all hospitals in Arizona, but particularly those that account for approximately 80 percent of annual hospital readmissions. Participating hospitals commit to meet aggressive, but realistic goals and partner with care delivery organizations to achieve them. Participating hospitals will receive support to implement the interventions most likely to accelerate their work and achieve success.

 

¹Care Quality Information from the Consumer Perspective Hospital Survey (HCAHPS) Pilot.
²National Priorities Partnership Compact Action Brief. Preventing Hospital Readmissions: A $25 Billion Opportunity. November 2010.