Solving Readmission Challenges through Post-Discharge Outreach



In October 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began penalizing hospitals with excessive readmissions. LibertyHealth, a New Jersey-based health system consisting of a 316 bed acute care facility and several ambulatory facilities, was penalized the full one percent, resulting in a significant loss in revenue. This penalty led Liberty’s leadership to seek a nurse advice system to help reduce readmissions.

Instead, they decided to implement RelayCare Readmission Management, a solution that generates alerts and tasks to prompt staff to follow up with patients on outstanding items that could contribute to readmissions. As a result, Liberty will have a proactive, rather than reactive, readmission management program via phone outreach.