Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center
Excellence in Heart Attack Care Reduces Readmissions
Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, in Houston, Texas, achieved superior readmission rates in two of the three clinical areas reported to the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Its readmission rate for patients with acute myocardial infarction and pneumonia surpassed the best 10 percent of hospitals in the country for the selection period. Its readmission rate for heart failure was not as strong, outperforming the national average only by a narrow margin.
Performance Improvement Strategies
- Planning for discharge begins upon admission, with staff actively educating patients about their disease and connecting patients with a source of ongoing care, even if they lack insurance coverage. The hospital offers a community-based disease management program for uninsured patients with chronic illness.
- Pharmacists are located in high-risk units to provide medication education to patients and help simplify home medication regimens.
- Iterative process improvements in AMI care have resulted in a lower door-to-balloon time, which preserves heart muscle, thus reducing complications and the risk of readmission.
