Unplanned CCU Readmission

Definition & why we measure

This measure has been defined as any readmission to critical care unit (CCU) of any patient discharged to the wards within 24 hours.

Transition of patients’ care is an important process through the healthcare system. This includes the transition of care for patients who survive a CCU admission to the wards. A program/ plan implementation ensures are adequately assessment and preparation of patients for safe step down of care from the critical care unit to the wards. Therefore, preventing the risk of return CCU due to deterioration in the ward. This has impact on the patients’ outcomes to include increased cost.²

What are we doing to improve?

The hospital has a policy guide that defines the CCU discharge criteria. In addition, the PCCU follows this guideline, tracks trends on unplanned readmission monthly measured against a benchmark of 1.2%.¹ Follows ups are done on the patient’s state after discharge from CCU.

Note: the lower the number the better the performance.

Reference:

  1. Bice T. ICU Readmissions: Good for Reflection on Performance but Not a Reflection of Quality. Crit Care Med. 2016 Sep;44(9):1790-1. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001809. PMID: 27526001; PMCID: PMC4988323.
  2. Niven DJ, Bastos JF, Stelfox HT. Critical care transition programs and the risk of readmission or death after discharge from an ICU: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical care medicine. 2014;42(1):179-87. doi:10.1097/CCM.0b013e3182a272c0
  3. Österlind J, Gerhardsson J, Myrberg T. Critical care transition programs on readmission or death: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2020 Aug;64(7):870-883. doi: 10.1111/aas.13591. Epub 2020 Apr 17. PMID: 32232833.
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