Reducing Inpatient Readmissions For Veterans With Severe Mental Illness And Substance Abuse Diagnosis

For veterans with severe mental illness who are engaged in outpatient treatment, symptoms worsening to the extent that hospital readmission is considered an undesired outcome that, both veterans and their treating providers try to prevent. The factors that influence the likelihood of hospital readmission post-discharge are not well understood. This study aimed to examine the level of post-discharge engagement (appointment attendance), level of patient and provider communication, and level of transportation as a barrier to engagement. These variables may have the likelihood to predict hospital readmission rates. Utilizing a quantitative methodology approach allowed for the analysis of these variables as predictors of hospital readmission rates