Health care in America is exceedingly costly, which means that any new programs that stem from health care reform have work cut out for them. Practicing preventative medicine is vital to the nation's well-being, yet America doesn't appear to be proficient in that regard. According to a 2009 study by the New England Journal of Medicine, one-fifth of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. After 90 days, that percentage climbs to 34 percent. Startlingly, after one year, two-thirds are either readmitted or they die.Source for this article - Patient re-admission is as common as it is costly by Newystype.com.

Re-admission of patients is a costly dilemma

The Huffington Post reports that Medicare cost taxpayers $17.4 billion in 2004. That cash black hole forced Medicare to begin paying closer attention to which hospitals had the highest bounce-back rate of re-admission. Top offenders were penalized financially. A new industry was born amidst the turmoil; private businesses would extend their efficiency expert services to afflicted hospitals. As various studies show that 75 percent of re-admissions are preventable, there appear to be many avenues through which hospitals could enact improvements in patient care.

Hospitals and nursing facilities blame each other

Re-admission, according to industry experts, is most likely due to communication breakdowns between hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Not providing enough patient and medication info, neglecting follow-up appointments and providing confusing or contradictory patient care instructions are just some of the major difficulties America's health care system faces, writes the Post. The problem grows considerably for those Medicaid patients who are older and are shuttled between general and intensive care facilities.

Medicare and private insurance work with blinders on

The American Geriatric Society found in a recent study that Medicare and insurance businesses prefer to recommend skilled nursing facilities over inpatient rehab for stroke victims, reports the Post. Doing so is less expensive upfront, but the rebound rate is 14.3 percent at the previous, while the more intensive care given at inpatient rehabilitation facilities results in only a 2 to 3 percent re-admission rate. Medicare and private insurance companies must learn to see beyond the low initial cost, because it will likely conserve millions, say critics.

Always question your doctor

Patients and those who care about them must ask doctors questions in order to assess the risk of future re-admittance. Ask your doctor about all risks and future care procedures for clarity. For more info on specific questions, see the Huffington Post article listed below.

Further reading

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/richard-c-senelick-md/the-bounce-back-effect-ho_b_677575.html