Answer 3 for NRS 455 Discuss discharge resources that are available for chronic cardiorespiratory issues to support patient independence and prevent readmission
Discharge resources for chronic cardiorespiratory issues aim to support patients’ independence and reduce the likelihood of readmission. These resources encompass various interventions and services that facilitate a smooth transition from hospital to home care. Many resources such as home health care services, telehealth and remote monitoring,
cardiac pulmonary rehabilitation programs, medication management services, and patient education programs. For home health care agencies, they provide skilled nursing care, physical therapy, and assistance with activities of daily living (Knox et al., 2022). They can help monitor patients’ conditions, administer medications, and provide wound care or respiratory therapy as needed. “Many patients prefer home health over post‐acute care in an inpatient setting because services are provided in the person’s home” (Knox et al., 2022). Telehealth platforms and remote monitoring devices allow healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients’ vital signs, oxygen levels, and symptoms. This enables early detection of complications and timely interventions to prevent readmission. These programs provide supervised exercise training, education, and support for patients with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and myocardo infarction (MI) (Johnson, 2023). They aim to improve patients’ exercise tolerance, reduce symptoms, and enhance their overall quality of life. Pharmacists and healthcare providers can help patients optimize their medication regimens, ensure proper dosing, and minimize the risk of drug interactions or adverse effects. This can improve medication adherence and reduce the likelihood of hospital readmission. For example, “The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a free service that acts as a clearinghouse for patients who cannot afford medications” (johnson, 2023). These programs offer education on disease management, medication adherence, symptom recognition, and lifestyle modifications. Patients learn how to monitor their vital signs, recognize signs of worsening symptoms, and seek appropriate medical care when necessary.
Readmission affects hospital reimbursement through several mechanisms. Under value-based payment models such as the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), hospitals may face financial penalties for higher-than-expected readmission rates within certain timeframes, typically 30 days after discharge (Beauvais et al., 2022). These penalties are based on readmission rates for specific conditions, including heart failure, COPD, and pneumonia. Hospitals with excessive readmissions may receive reduced reimbursement from Medicare and other payers, which can impact their financial stability and operational sustainability. Readmission can have implication on the hospital such as financial penalties, quality of care and reputation and accreditation. Readmission can implicate the patient on health risks such as infections and complication, loss of independence in performing daily activities and disruption of lives when sudden transforming to hospital environement.
References
Beauvais, B., Whitaker, Z., Kim, F., & Anderson, B. (2022). Is the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program Associated with Reduced Hospital Readmissions?. Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 15, 1089–1099. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S358733
Johnson, A. R. (2023). Pathophysiology: Clinical Applications for Client Health (Second Edition). Grand Canyon University. https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000590/epub/Chapter1.html#page_30
Knox, S., Downer, B., Haas, A., & Ottenbacher, K. J. (2022). Home health utilization association with discharge to community for people with dementia. Alzheimer’s & dementia (New York, N. Y.), 8(1), e12341. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.12341
