Rapid evaluation service cuts readmissions

Harbor UCLA Medical Center was able to cut heart failure readmissions by 5.5 percent in a year, using a Cardiovascular Open Access Rapid Evaluation (CORE) service. Aimed at relieving burden on the emergency department, the service is open to patients not admitted to the hospital from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., where providers coordinate medical interventions, The Hospitalist reported.

The Torrance, Calif.-based teaching hospital also attributes the down readmissions to bringing on a home healthcare representative and a discharge advocate to the team, as well as referring patients to a heart failure disease management registry. Article