RUSH Reduced Stroke Readmissions Through New Strategy
The Chicago health system lowered hospital returns by implementing a targeted 12-month patient care collaborative.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Stroke
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RUSH has successfully lowered patient readmission rates by implementing a three-pronged strategy as part of a national stroke collaborative program. The initiative resulted in 27 fewer hospital returns during its 12-month duration.
Why it matters
The Hospital Readmission Reduction Program established in 2012 imposes financial penalties on hospitals that exceed expected readmission rates. By reducing returns, facilities avoid these costs while addressing the $17 billion Medicare spends annually on unplanned care.
The stroke collaborative program avoided an estimated $694,000 in costs over 12 months. This effort addresses a national baseline where 15% of Medicare patients return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge.
The players
RUSH
This Chicago-based academic health system provides patient care, research, and education.
Vizient
This organization provides performance improvement tools and data analytics to healthcare providers.
The details
Outpatient nurses conducted follow-up calls within 48 hours of discharge, while case management teams utilized motivational interviewing at the bedside to address specific drivers of acute care use. RUSH partnered with Vizient to leverage clinical data tools throughout the collaborative, which included more than 80 participating organizations.
Timeline
2012 marked the establishment of the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program.
Stroke outpatient nurses performed follow-up calls within 48 hours of patient discharge.
The stroke collaborative program operated for a 12-month period.
Health Landscape
RUSHs strategy aligns with the broader push to meet benchmarks set by the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program. This shift represents a transition toward data-driven, outpatient-focused care models designed to minimize penalties and improve chronic disease management.
Local patients can expect more proactive communication through follow-up calls within 48 hours of discharge. These efforts aim to improve health outcomes and reduce the need for repeat emergency hospital visits after a stroke.
The takeaway
Proactive follow-up care and bedside interviewing can effectively reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions. Patients should prioritize these follow-up communications to ensure better recovery and avoid the complications of unplanned return visits.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest clinical approaches for stroke recovery in the Stroke section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
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