Background: Hospital readmission reduction has gained greater awareness since the passage of the Affordable Care Act and within it the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP). Policy makers sought to improve quality of care by increasing reporting transparency and imposing financial penalties on facilities for excessive readmission rates. Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) remains committed to reducing hospital readmissions and in doing [...]

Background: Early discharges from inpatient units improve throughput from the Emergency Department (ED) and reduce ED boarding. ED boarding increases patient safety events, provider burnout, and decreases patient satisfaction. Multidisciplinary communication between hospitalists, nursing staff and case management is essential for facilitating early discharges from inpatient medicine units. Such communication frequently requires in-person care coordination [...]

Background: Consumer satisfaction is largely dependent on convenience, efficiency, and quality, and healthcare is no outlier. Technological advancements, such as the use of artificial intelligence or virtual visit appointments, is emerging as a new form of healthcare provided. While these technologies have existed far before the COVID-19 pandemic, it has expedited the mass population’s acclimation [...]