Earlier today, CMS updated its Hospital Compare Web site to include data about 30-day hospital readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia. The site already provides information about 30-day mortality measures for the same groups. The site is intended both as a resource to patients – who can search by hospital to find out how their hospital compares to other hospitals – and to hospitals looking to improve their performance.

Making this data publicly available is a positive first step toward improving quality, simply in that it lets hospitals know how they’re doing. The way our current health care system is structured, it’s completely possible that they have no idea – which means there is no incentive to improve. However, given the dire straights our health system is in, we all need to take part in reducing costs to make the system viable in the long-term. In the CV world, ACC data show that reducing high-cost heart failure readmissions by 20 percent could save $265 million. That kind of savings is nothing to laugh at.

What You Can Do
First, start by reviewing the data. Once you’ve done that, ACT. The ACC is encouraging hospitals to enroll in our new Hospital to Home (H2H) initiative, which aims to reduce cardiovascular readmissions by 20 percent by 2012 by improving the transition from hospital to “home.” This is a lofty goal, but by providing evidenced-based strategies for reducing readmissions along with technical assistance to implement the strategies, we can make the reduction a reality.

Other Considerations
Although we value the opportunity for improvement Hospital Compare offers, it’s equally important that the data used is both fair and valid – and that our response as a community always places the best interests of the patients in the forefront of our efforts. The ACC will work with CMS and others to use the release of this data to strengthen the Medicare program and help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries receive high-quality CV care. Because at the end of the day, high-quality CV care for patients is the most important goal.

Additional Coverage:

• Baylor hospital leads way to lower heart failure readmission rates. USA Today.
  
  
• 'Double failure' at USA's hospitals. USA Today.