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Respiratory Failure: How Early Discharge to Kindred Hospitals Improves Outcomes and Reduces Cost

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Early discharge of respiratory failure patients to Kindred Hospitals can help improve outcomes, decrease inpatient length of stay, and reduce readmissions.

The Respiratory Failure Challenge

Respiratory failure is a potentially fatal condition that often has a complex recovery path.

The average length of stay for patients with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation is 10.5 days with an average daily hospital cost of over $15,000. 1

Additionally, the 30-day readmission rate of respiratory failure is 21%, while the overall average hospital cost of a readmission generally is $15,200. 2

All told, the mean hospital cost for a respiratory failure patient on mechanical ventilation could amount to $173,643.

Recovery Outcomes at Kindred Hospitals

Kindred Hospitals, which provide physician-led acute care and rehabilitation for medically complex patients after a hospital stay, have been able to achieve quality outcomes and reduce readmissions for respiratory failure patients. With a specialized focus and key initiatives, Kindred Hospitals have achieved the following:

  • 86% of ventilator patients reach a high level of mobility, based on the Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility Scale.3
  • 14% readmission rate for respiratory failure and ventilator-supported pulmonary diagnoses, compared with the average readmission rate of 22% at traditional hospitals and 27% at skilled nursing facilities.4

With an average cost of a readmission amounting more than $15,000, the lower readmission rates at Kindred represent significant potential savings.

Initiatives that have contributed to Kindred Hospitals’ quality outcomes include:

  • Disease-specific certifications from The Joint Commission in Sepsis and Respiratory Failure*
  • Move Early program that incorporates movement into the patient recovery plan as soon as is safe, even for patients on mechanical ventilation
  • AfterCare program of follow-up communications with patients post-discharge to answer questions about discharge orders, medications, and durable medical equipment

Length of Stay and Cost Implications of Early Discharge to Kindred

Because our specialized hospitals offer ICU-level care, stable patients can be transferred to a Kindred Hospital while they are still in critical condition, shortening their inpatient lengths of stay.

Considering the average cost of an initial inpatient stay for respiratory failure patients on mechanical ventilation is $158,443, such strategies to shorten episodes of care can have a significant financial impact.5

Therefore, early transfer of respiratory failure patients to Kindred Hospitals can both improve outcomes and reduce costs.

To learn more about how Kindred Hospitals can help respiratory failure patients recover, visit kindredmanagedcare.com.

References

  1. https://journals.lww.com/ccejournal/fulltext/2020/06000/the_epidemiology_of_respiratory_failure_in_the.8.aspx
  2. https://hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb278-Conditions-Frequent-Readmissions-By-Payer-2018.jsp
  3. Kindred Internal Data, 2023 Average; https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/physical_medicine_rehabilitation/education_training/amp/toolkit.html; “high level of mobility” defined as a score of 4 or better.
  4. The Advisory Board. Post-Acute Pathways Explorer: State Average Outcomes by MS-DRG; Systems Outcomes Report, Kindred IDs; DRGs 3, 4, 189, 207, 208; Q3 2022-Q2 2023
  5. https://journals.lww.com/ccejournal/fulltext/2020/06000/the_epidemiology_of_respiratory_failure_in_the.8.aspx

*Varies by location

 
 

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