Patient selection: acute myelogenous leukemia, >= 60 years
An avoidable hospital readmission may involve an admission for:
(1) fever and/or infection
(2) uncontrolled symptoms
It would not usually apply to a planned or scheduled admission.
Causes for a potentially avoidable hospital re-admissions:
(1) The patient received inadequate medical management (see below).
(2) The patient was prematurely discharged from the hospital (as evidenced by readmission within 7 days for the same complaint as the previous admission)
(3) There was a failure in timely follow-up, especially if receiving active chemotherapy.
(4) The patient has social problems at home.
(5) The patient was non-adherent to medications, instructions and/or follow-up visits.
(6) The patient did not receive adequate rehabilitation before or after hospital discharge.
(7) The patient was to receive hospice or supportive care only.
(8) The patient could have been managed as an outpatient.
Inadequate medical management may include any lapse that eventually lead to a hospital admission:
(1) failure to address a complaint or symptom
(2) failure to adequately treat an infection
(3) failure to address abnormal laboratory values
(4) failure to follow-up borderline findings that progressed (overlaps with inadequate follow-up)
Risk factors for a potentially avoidable re-admission:
(1) higher education (not specified although 6 categories listed)
(2) receipt of non-intensive induction chemotherapy (may select a group that is older and that has more comorbidities)
