Readmission Rates Higher For Chronic Conditions Than Other Conditions

Readmission rates within 30 days are higher for people admitted for chronic conditions than for people admitted for surgery or an acute health condition. The average 30-day readmission rate for non-surgical chronic health conditions was 22.7%. The average readmission rate for acute non-surgical conditions was 18.5%. The average readmission rate for acute surgical conditions was 12.5%. The findings were reported in “30-Day Readmissions following Hospitalizations for Chronic vs. Acute Conditions, 2008. HCUP Statistical Brief #127” by Jennifer Podulka, MPA and Marguierite Barrett, MS, of Thomson Reuters; and by H. Joanna Jiang, Ph.D . . .