A Cost-Sensitive Learning Framework for Reducing 30-Day Readmission

摘要

Background: Hospital readmissions are costly and have gained increasing attention from policy makers and healthcare providers. Recently, readmissions within 30 days of prior hospitalization are considered to be a focus for improvement of healthcare quality. In the United States, the 30-day readmission rate is estimated to be 18%. Readmissions are estimated to cost $17 billion annually for Medicare beneficiaries. Researchers believe that some of the readmissions can be avoidable if healthcare providers can improve healthcare processes via timely interventions. However, such interventions have not achieved the expected outcome yet in the healthcare industry. In 2016, the 30-day readmission rate has hit the historical high level and the US government will punish more than half of the nation's hospitals -- a total of 2,597 -- having more patients than expected return within a month.