11.2.0.0 Preventing Readmissions
In patients with diabetes, the hospital readmission rate is between 14 and 20% (86). Risk factors for readmission include lower socioeconomic status, certain racial/ethnic minority groups, comorbidities, urgent admission, and recent prior hospitalization (86). Of interest, 30% of patients with two or more hospital stays account for over 50% of hospitalizations and their accompanying hospital costs (87). While there is no standard to prevent readmissions, several successful strategies have been reported, including an intervention program targeting ketosisprone patients with type 1 diabetes (88), initiating insulin treatment in patients with admission A1C >9% (75 mmol/mol) (89), and a transitional care model (90). For people with diabetic kidney disease, patient-centered medical home collaboratives may decrease risk-adjusted readmission rates (91).