Power Of Prediction: Pharmacy-Driven Efforts At Upmc Shadyside Strive To Decrease Hospital Readmissions

Abstract

R 30-day readmissions is at the top of most health systems’ to-do lists. What if clinicians could identify and predict prior to discharge those patients who are at the highest risk for readmissions? Amber O’Malley, PharmD, BCPS, lead pharmacist of clinical services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Shadyside Campus, and her pharmacy colleagues are doing just that. “We are using a novel approach to focus pharmacist efforts,” said O’Malley. “Once patients are identi ed as high risk, pharmacists can intervene appropriately.”