Toolkit Reduces Rehospitalizations at Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled nursing facilities that tested the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) toolkit found training during weekly staff meetings was more effective than a single full-day course, according to a new study.
The RED toolkit, designed for hospitals, was tested by four skilled nursing facilities from 2013 to 2015.
They used either standard implementation, which trained staff via weekly meetings, or enhanced implementation, in which staff training was completed during a single full-day course.
Standard implementation facilities also had stronger leadership support for revised discharge procedures.
While facilities using the enhanced implementation saw no change in rehospitalization rates, standard implementation reduced rehospitalizations by 45% at 30 days, 50% at 60 days, and 39% at 180 days.