How do hospitals that serve low socioeconomic status patients achieve low readmission rates? A qualitative study of safety-net hospitals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hospital readmissions are an important quality of care indicator and are tied to hospitals' financial reimbursements. Safety-net hospitals, which serve a high proportion of patients of low socioeconomic status (SES), face unique challenges to reduce or maintain low readmission rates.

Objective

We sought to understand strategies high-performing safety-net hospitals used to achieve low 30-day risk-standardised readmission rates (RSRRs) using qualitative methodology.

Methods

Safety-net hospital status was defined by public ownership or a Medicaid population that is greater than 1 SD higher than the state proportion of Medicaid patients and the hospital payer source is composed of at least 15% Medicaid patients. Safety-net hospitals were selected based on their

SUBMITTER: Minges KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11831259 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature