Hospital readmission rates refer to the percentage of patients who return to the hospital within a specific time frame, usually 30 days, after being discharged. These rates are important indicators of the quality of care provided by hospitals and can reflect issues such as inadequate treatment, lack of follow-up care, or complications from the initial illness. High readmission rates can lead to increased healthcare costs and may indicate that patients are not receiving the necessary support after leaving the hospital. To address this, many healthcare systems implement programs aimed at improving patient education, follow-up appointments, and coordination of care to reduce the likelihood of readmission.