The American Hospital Association (AHA) has launched its 2019 Innovation Challenge, which focusses this year on using technology to address the social determinants of health and connect people with resources to address community health needs.
Research has shown that untreated depression in hospitalized patients may affect patient outcomes, including recovery and the likelihood of readmission after discharge. Screening for depression can help spot the problem and help patients get needed treatment.
A financial assessment may be time-consuming and difficult, as many patients are reluctant to inform the case manager of the financial risks they face, but it is critical to assisting patients meet the most basic of needs.
A recent study published in Healh Affairs claims that reductions in readmission rates reported as due to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) are “illusory or overstated.”
