Pediatric Readmissions Within 3 Days of Discharge: Preventability, Contributing Factors, and Necessity.

OBJECTIVES: Among pediatric 30-day readmissions, 20% to 30% are preventable, and ∼25% are within 3 days of discharge. We investigated the preventability, contributing factors, and necessity of 3-day pediatric readmissions.

METHODS: We enrolled patients who were readmitted within 3 days at a freestanding tertiary children's hospital in this single-site observational study from July 2016 to February 2017. We performed chart reviews and interviews with discharge and readmission providers and families. Preventability was defined by the chart reviewer's determination. Contributing factors for readmission, demographics, and clinical characteristics were analyzed for association with preventability and necessity. We analyzed qualitative data using content analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 125 readmission cases included, 60 (48%) were preventable per chart reviewer compared with 27 of 92 (29%) per discharge providers, 33 of 93 (35%) per readmission providers, and 9 of 36 (25%) per families. Preventability was associated with the following contributing factors: problems with clinical decision-making in 54 of 125 (43%) readmissions ( P < .001), issues with the discharge process in 25 of 125 (20%) readmissions ( P = .01), clinically related admission and readmission ( P = .004), and weekday of initial discharge ( P = .02). Seventeen percent were unnecessary per readmission provider. Clinically unnecessary readmissions were associated with Hispanic ethnicity ( P = .02), outside-hospital transfer ( P = .05), and problems with clinical decision-making ( P = .01). Qualitative data highlighted disagreement on readiness for discharge and the necessity of readmission among various providers and family.

CONCLUSIONS: More than one-half of 3-day readmissions were considered either preventable or unnecessary. Clinical decision-making, discharge processes, and improving consensus among families and providers may be valuable areas for future efforts to reduce readmission.