Average 30-Day Readmission Rates by Medical Conditions

By Lisa Remington
President, Remington’s Think Tank Strategy Institute and The Remington Report

High readmission rates can be indicative of poor care coordination, inadequate discharge planning, or the presence of chronic health conditions that are not being managed effectively. Conversely, low readmission rates are often associated with better patient outcomes and more effective healthcare delivery.

AVERAGE READMISSION RATES AND CONDITION-SPECIFIC READMISSION RATES

Readmission rates are critical for hospitals and ACOs as they work to improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary healthcare costs through better care coordination and patient education.

These rates are critical in identifying areas where healthcare systems can improve and are often used in conjunction with other performance metrics to guide healthcare policies and practices.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO READMISSIONS

• Comorbidities: Patients with multiple chronic conditions are at higher risk for readmission across all conditions.
• Post-Discharge Care: Inadequate follow-up care and poor coordination between healthcare providers can increase the likelihood of readmission.
• Socioeconomic Status: Patients with limited access to resources and support systems may struggle with medication adherence and self-care, leading to higher readmission rates.

AVERAGE 30-DAY READMISSION RATES

The average hospital readmission rate in the United States typically ranges from 15% to 20%, depending on the patient population and condition. This rate can vary based on several factors, including the type of hospital, the specific medical condition, and the quality of care provided.

HOW DO CONDITION-SPECIFIC READMISSION RATES DIFFER FROM AVERAGE 30-DAY READMISSION RATES?

Condition-specific readmission rates can vary widely depending on the type of illness, treatment, and patient demographics. Here are some examples of average 30-day readmission rates for specific conditions:

• Heart Failure: 22% to 25%
• Pneumonia: 15% to 20%
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: 20% to 24%
• Acute Myocardial Infarction: 17% to 19%
• Hip and Knee Replacements: 4% to 8%
• Sepsis: 15% to 30%

HOSPITAL-WIDE READMISSION RATES

Another piece of readmission rate data is comparing hospitals nationally. According to CMS, here are the 10 hospitals with the highest and lowest readmission rates.

Lowest

• Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City): 10.1%
• Luke’s Regional Medical Center (Boise, Idaho): 11.55
• New England Baptist Hospital (Boston): 11.5%
• (Bill) Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center (Salisbury, N.C.) : 11.8%
• Arkansas Surgical Hospital (Little Rock, Ark): 12.3%
• Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital (Wichita, Kan.): 12.35
• Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital (Tyler, Texas): 12.3%
• S.I.S. Hospital (Phoenix): 12.4%
• Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital: 12.4%
• Intermountain Medical Center (Murray, Utah): 12.4%

Highest

• Oroville (Calif.) Hospital: 19.1%
• Lucie Medical Center (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.): 17.95
• LA Downtown Medical Center (Calif.): 17.7%
• Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Medical Center: 17.5%
• Broward Health North (Pompano Beach, Fla.): 17.4%
• VA Boston Healthcare System-Jamaica Plain (Mass.): 17.4%
• Jefferson Stratford (N.J.) Hospital: 17.4%
• John’s Episcopal Hospital at South Shore (Far Rockaway, N.Y.): 17.4%
• Baystate Medical Center (Springfield, Mass.): 17.3%
• Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Burbank, Calif.):17.2%

Readmission rates are important indicators of the quality of care and are often used by healthcare providers and policymakers to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.