Hospital readmissions: a reliable quality indicator?
Van Galen, L.S.; Nanayakkara, P.W.B.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 160: A9885
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 26786801 Document Number: 687733
The percentage of readmissions within 30 days after discharge is an official quality indicator for Dutch hospitals in 2016. In this commentary the authors argue why readmissions cannot be regarded as a reliable way of assessing quality of healthcare in a hospital. To date, policy makers have been struggling with its precise definition and the indicator has not been properly formulated yet. It does not distinguish between planned and unplanned readmissions and does not take into account the 'preventability'. Therefore the authors believe that the indicator in its current form might falsely interpret the quality of care of a hospital and it is questionable to use readmissions as a quality indicator.