Background: Health care expenditures in the United States have been increasing exponentially while hospital care accounts for one-third of the costs. Approximately 18% of hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries are being readmitted within 30 days following their discharge. As a quality measure, penalties for high readmission rates are inversely affecting the reimbursements.  Currently, research on the factors [...]

Background: Patients diagnosed in-hospital with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) are at high risk for post-discharge complications and readmission similar to patients with chronic conditions. Patient navigation reduces post-discharge complications and readmissions in patients with chronic diseases, however its role in acute conditions is less clear. Similarly, the use of mobile technology to improve patient engagement [...]

Background: Observation units were initially intended to function as a short stay unit for lower acuity patients with specific diagnoses, however this traditional model is currently evolving.  Rising health care costs and changing health care policy have resulted in an increase utilization of the observation unit and an expansion of diagnostic criteria to include more [...]