Table 2.

Events prompting readmission and failure analysis (not mutually exclusive)

Probably necessary readmission	Potentially avoidable readmission
Initiation of antibiotic for infectious process	Diagnostic evaluation without acute process identified (sometimes in the setting of a transfer from a distant facility)
Initiation of insulin	Initiation of oral medication
Initiation of enteral or parenteral feeds	Inadequate support at home (self-care, meals, nutrition)
Intravenous hydration or resuscitation	Inadequate pain control
Percutaneous drain placement	Visiting nurse concern prompting emergency department evaluation as a result of lack of available urgent outpatient evaluation
Feeding tube placement (endoscopic)	Patient or family concern prompting emergency department evaluation as a result of lack of available urgent outpatient evaluation
Reoperation	Transfer from outside facility with re-interpretation of imaging results