Mercy Medical Center
Reducing Readmissions Through Clinical Excellence, Palliative Care, and Collaboration
Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had readmission rates in the lowest 3 percent among U.S. hospitals in all three clinical areas—heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia—reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the selection period.
Performance Improvement Strategies
- Primary focus on clinical excellence and standardized care, including an investment in advanced practice nurses to implement best practices and guideline
- Early discharge planning, targeting of high-risk patients, and scheduling of follow-up care
- Strong end-of-life care that involves Palliative Care Teams, portable advance directives, and hospice care
