The differences are in the details: Considerations for comparing 30-day unplanned readmission rates

Hospital readmissions can add unnecessary cost to the healthcare system and can adversely affect patient health. Readmission rates are key metrics for measuring the performance of hospitals, health plans, accountable care organizations, physicians, and post-acute care facilities because they are tied to financial rewards and penalties for those entities. This article identifies key elements that should be considered when evaluating readmission rates across populations or when comparing readmission rates with different methodologies.