Patient readmission rates present an ongoing challenge for healthcare systems, costing an average of $17,700 per incident.1 With an estimated 3.5 million readmissions annually in the U.S.,1 the financial impact becomes staggering for hospitals and the healthcare industry as a whole.
This issue is most prevalent among high-risk patients, including those being treated for heart failure (HF).2 Understanding the root causes of readmissions, paired with proactive treatment protocols, is key to improving clinical and financial outcomes.
Pulmonary Congestion Assessment Impacts the Cycle of Readmission for Heart Failure Patients
Pulmonary congestion for heart failure patients has long been recognized as a cardinal indicator of hospitalization, and re-hospitalization, in HF patients. Traditional methods for monitoring lung fluid levels are often inconvenient and imprecise, however. Common tools like chest radiography (CXR) and natriuretic peptide (NP) measurement can provide data-driven insights, but those findings do not always correlate with a patient’s actual fluid status. CXR and NP measurements also present a logistical challenge because they cannot be used outside of clinical settings.
Physical exams that rely on patient symptoms can be flexibly offered at any point of care, but they provide ambiguous insights that can’t be reliably used to inform proactive treatment. Symptoms like shortness of breath and swollen legs or ankles may be due to multiple underlying causes beyond heart failure.
Symptom-based assessments and physical exams often result in patients being discharged before they’re ready to recover at home. Residual pulmonary congestion can remain after treatment or discharge, creating continued risk even when a patient appears to be clinically improved. Many of these patients end up back in the hospital within 30 days – placing significant strain on healthcare systems, from increased pressure on hospital staff to higher operational costs and reduced reimbursements.
A Patient-Centric Approach to Heart Failure Readmission Reduction
The ReDS™ Pro System from Sensible Medical is a non-invasive lung fluid monitoring system that provides accurate, objective lung fluid measurements in just 45 seconds. A multi-facility study revealed remarkable results: In a point-of-care fluid measurement trial, ReDS-guided care was associated with a 91% lower risk of unplanned heart failure visits, heart failure readmissions, or death at one month after discharge.3
A two-year study conducted by Sensible Medical at an eldercare facility helped 99% of patients studied (391 out of 395) avoid congestive heart failure-related ER and hospital visits, resulting in cost savings of $175,000 (based on average daily reimbursements of $450 across 24 months).4
Objective lung fluid measurement before and after discharge helps clinicians evaluate congestion and adjust treatments more confidently than assessments based only on symptoms, appearance, weight, or physical exams. An earlier study supports ReDS efficacy in reducing heart failure readmissions and revealed how clinicians used ReDS to adjust diuretics and optimize intervention efforts. Nearly 70% of patients received heart failure medication adjustments guided by ReDS data.5
Elevating Heart Failure Care Without Impacting Workflows: How ReDS Works
The ReDS system uses radio frequency technology to evaluate the dielectric properties of lung tissue and assess lung fluid content with minimal impact to patient comfort or workflow processes. The system passes signals through the patient’s lung tissue, and within 45 seconds, measurements are displayed on a connected bedside monitor console to be recorded in the patient’s chart. Fluid measurements help providers across healthcare settings determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on objective, quantitative data.
The non-invasive ReDS lung fluid monitoring process does not require X-rays or blood draws. Instead, it directly measures pulmonary congestion levels without complex workflows involving radiologists, phlebotomists, or other specialized staff. From outpatient settings to home care, ReDS enables simple point-of-care measurements for heart failure patients.
Address the Cycle of Readmission for HF Patients With the ReDS Pro System
By providing stronger oversight, and revealing hidden pulmonary congestion with minimal impact to patients, the ReDS Pro System helps elevate heart failure care and improve patient outcomes – without adding burden to staff or adversely impacting a healthcare system’s bottom line.
Interested in learning whether ReDS is right for your facility? Schedule a demo.
Sources:
- Files, Henry S., H. Joanna Jiang, and Audrey J. Weiss. “Clinical Conditions With Frequent, Costly Hospital Readmissions by Payer, 2020.” Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #307. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2023. https://hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb307-readmissions-2020.jsp
- CDC: Outpatient Follow-Up Visits to Reduce 30-Day All-Cause Readmissions for Heart Failure, COPD, Myocardial Infarction, and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; Dylan J. Bilicki, BS1; Mathew J. Reeves, PhD. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/24_0138.htm
- Alvarez-Garcia, Jesus, Anuradha Lala, Mercedes Rivas-Lasarte, Clemencia De Rueda, Danielle Brunjes, Sara Lozano-Jimenez, Cristina Garcia-Sebastian, et al. “Remote Dielectric Sensing Before and After Discharge in Patients With ADHF: The ReDS-SAFE HF Trial.” JACC: Heart Failure 12, no. 4 (2024): 695–706. https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jchf.2024.01.002
- Independent 395 patient study from 2023–2024
- Lala, A. et al. “Early Use of Remote Dielectric Sensing After Hospitalization to Reduce Heart Failure Readmissions.” ESC Heart Failure 8, no. 2 (2021): 1047–1054. https://academic.oup.com/eschf/article/8/2/1047/8381985
