CMS Grant

Care transition to prevent readmissions has become a hot topic for hospitals. Recently, I met with some hospital people to discuss a CMS grant for Tarrant County and there were people from Dallas and Cleburne! I was very surprised by the enthusiasm of the entire group. Quality of care is a fundamental concern for all of these hospitals.  People who don’t normally partner are excited about working together to make a change in North Texas.

Many hospitals have put programs into place to prevent readmissions and have seen a dramatic change in the number of readmissions.  North Texas has reduced readmissions by 23% across the board. A survey was sent to hospital CNOs to find out exactly what hospitals are doing to make such a dramatic change. Hopefully, we will have some results to publish within the next month.

The grant will give hospitals financial support at a time when the health care profession is potentially losing income due to recent legislation. Keeping people out of the hospital gives the patient a better quality of life and reduces the costs for hospitals and insurance companies, which eventually reduces costs for everyone else.

Pam Doughty, Ph.D., Director of Health Services Research