CMS: A Focus on Care Transitions Makes Sense

Transition from the inpatient to the outpatient setting is a vulnerable time for a patient. This high-risk episode of care has received substantial attention from healthcare system regulatory agencies (i.e., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Joint Commission, and National Quality Forum) and is addressed in legislation such as the Affordable Care Act because of its implications for healthcare use, adverse events, and cost of care; 1-month rehospitalization rates approach 20% in Medicare patients (JW Hosp Med Apr 1 2009). At least six major professional organizations, representing internal and emergency medicine, have designed consensus principles and standards (based on expert opinion) for managing care transitions (JW Hosp Med Oct 9…