Which strategies are effective in preventing readmissions in inpatient care?

Comprehensive discharge planning and patient education are critical strategies for preventing readmissions in inpatient care because they ensure that patients leave the hospital with a clear understanding of their health conditions, treatment plans, and follow-up care. Effective discharge planning involves assessing a patient's individual needs, coordinating with interdisciplinary teams, and ensuring that patients have the necessary resources and support upon their transition to home or other care settings.

Patient education is a key component, as it empowers individuals to understand their health status, recognize warning signs that may indicate complications, manage their medications correctly, and adhere to follow-up appointments. When patients are well-informed and have a structured plan in place, they are less likely to experience complications that could lead to readmission, ultimately improving their health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

In contrast, the other options either focus on areas that do not directly influence readmission rates or involve approaches that may detract from patient care quality. Social media marketing and patient feedback are valuable for engagement but do not directly address the factors that lead to readmissions. Reducing staffing levels and patient wait times may compromise the quality of care, potentially leading to adverse outcomes for patients. Lowering medication costs is beneficial for accessibility but does not address the critical need for patients to understand their treatment plans