Fla. Hospitals Reduce Hospital Readmissions By 15 Percent

The initiative headed by the Florida Hospital Association also reduced readmission rates for surgical complications and bloodstream infections and saved millions at 160 hospitals, it says.

The Associated Press: Florida Hospitals Reducing Readmission Rates
Florida hospital officials say patients who have been hospitalized recently are 15 percent less likely to be readmitted as hospitals around the country try to improve quality and save money under the Affordable Care Act. Tuesday's report from the Florida Hospital Association comes five years after the state ranked among the worst in the nation for poor health outcomes and high costs (Kennedy, 8/13).

Miami Herald: Report: Hospitals Reduced Readmissions, Surgical Complications
A five-year collaborative effort among Florida hospitals spurred a 15 percent drop in the number of patient readmissions, health care leaders announced Tuesday. The initiative, spearheaded by the Florida Hospital Association, touted other successes, including a 14.5 percent reduction in surgical complications, a 41 percent decline in bloodstream infections and millions of dollars saved at the 160 participating hospitals (McGrory, 8/13).

Earlier, related KHN coverage: Armed With Bigger Fines, Medicare To Punish 2,225 Hospitals For Excess Readmissions (Rau, 8/2).