The healthcare system plays a significant role in maintaining the entire community’s well-being. Therefore, optimizing its performance and minimizing work overloads that could be avoided may be essential. Hospital readmissions represent a considerable issue that might adversely affect the healthcare system and patients. It can be caused by various factors, including specific medical conditions of a particular patient, poor healthcare performance, and unsatisfying patient outcomes. Hence it is critical to assess hospital readmissions and develop frameworks to mitigate undesirable consequences.
Patients with diabetes are more likely to contribute to hospital readmission rates than those without diabetes. According to Gambino (2017), readmission rates among patients with diabetes reach 26%, a considerable number compared to 22% among other patients. Several factors may explain higher readmission rates among patient populations with diabetes. First, it might be challenging to introduce a holistic approach to diabetes to mitigate its adverse effects. Therefore, problems might occur unpredictably due to the specificities of the disorder. Second, treatment plans require patients to adhere to a strict diet and routine, which can also be challenging.
Finally, insufficient care may cause poor patient outcomes and increase the chance of readmission. According to some sources, such interventions as holistic care improvement, insulin therapy, short-term intensive program, transition to primary care physicians, and prolonged support for patients may decrease hospital readmission rates (Chakraborty et al., 2021). It may also be beneficial to provide patients with sufficient information regarding preferable lifestyles and diet patterns. The implementation of the above-mentioned strategies may not only improve outcomes in patients with diabetes but also reduce related workload and cost burden on the industry.
References
Chakraborty, A., Pearson, O., Schwartzkopff, K. M., O’rourke, I., Ranasinghe, I., Mah, P. M., Adams, R., Boyd, M., & Wittert, G. (2021). The effectiveness of in-hospital interventions on reducing hospital length of stay and readmission of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 174, 108363. Web.
Gambino, B. (2018). Link between diabetes and hospital readmission rates. Endocrinology Advisor. Web.