Patient Safety Pays: Preventing Harm in Hospital and SNF Important to Bottom Line

​Citing research finding that the occurrence of adverse events in the hospital may increase the risk of hospital readmission, not just within 30 days but up to a year after discharge, the authors of an article in the August 2015 Caring for the Ages state that skilled nursing facility (SNF) patients or residents who experienced an adverse event during a hospital stay need to be identified and effectively managed. "Indeed, this may be another high-risk population in addition to patients with chronic disease," they write. The lingering effect of inpatient harm could financially affect SNFs involved with accountable care organizations, bundled payments, or other alternative payment models.