Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Reducing Length of Stay and Readmissions at Adventist HealthCare with Dr. Neil Roy
Feb 22, 2026
Dr. Neil Roy, emergency physician and CMO at Adventist HealthCare, leads clinical and operational innovation. He discusses marketplace rounds that sped surgeries and cut stays, high-risk discharge clinics and remote monitoring that lowered readmissions, and pilots for SNF bed leasing and AI tools to detect care delays. He also highlights tactics to boost physician engagement and staff retention.
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Use Marketplace Rounds To Cut Length Of Stay
- Do run daily multidisciplinary marketplace rounds with hospitalists, pharmacists, social workers and executive sponsors to escalate unit problems in real time.
- Neil Roy used a central room where leaders jump on flagged cases (e.g., accelerate hip fracture surgery) and cut length of stay 10–15% in six months.
High Risk Discharge Program Shrunk Readmissions
- We created a high-risk discharge clinic, remote patient monitoring, social work at discharge and hospice touchpoints to support patients after leaving the hospital.
- Pairing these outpatient supports with shorter stays drove readmissions from ~11–12% to under 10% and reversed prior penalties.
Readmissions Often Stem From Discharge Access Gaps
- Don't assume ED diversion alone prevents readmissions; failures often start at discharge due to limited access to follow-up care.
- Even in an affluent Maryland suburb, Roy found behavioral health and access gaps drive return admissions.