CommonSpirit Health Network Cuts 30-Day Readmissions 18 % with AI-Driven Early-Warning System
Denver, CO — November 26, 2025 CommonSpirit Health today announced system-wide deployment of a machine-learning platform that flags hospitalized patients who have an elevated probability of returning within 30 days. Eight months after go-live, the 138-hospital network has lowered its unplanned readmission rate from 14.8 % to 12.1 %, surpassing the 2025 national average of 14.2 % reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The algorithm, developed with Mayo Clinic Platform, ingests 49 clinical and social-determinant variables at admission and updates every 15 minutes. Case managers receive automated alerts that include a risk score, suggested interventions, and a one-click referral to post-acute services. A retrospective analysis of 42,317 discharges found that patients in the highest risk quartile who received the digital care bundle were 31 % less likely to return within 30 days than similar patients treated the prior year.
Recent peer-reviewed work in the American Journal of Managed Care validates the approach, showing that a safety-net system using AI to target heart-failure readmissions eliminated racial disparities while saving $7.2 million in at-risk funding.
Recent peer-reviewed work in the American Journal of Managed Care validates the approach, showing that a safety-net system using AI to target heart-failure readmissions eliminated racial disparities while saving $7.2 million in at-risk funding.
“Our mission is to serve every patient with dignity, but we can’t do that if they keep cycling back through our doors,” said CommonSpirit CEO Lloyd H. Dean. “The model gives our caregivers a 48-hour head start to arrange medication reconciliation, home visits, and transportation—simple steps that keep vulnerable seniors out of the hospital and in their communities.”
Nationwide, unplanned readmissions drive an estimated $26 billion in annual spending, according to 2024 data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. CMS penalties for excess readmissions reached $520 million in fiscal year 2025, with the average penalty per hospital rising 8 % year-over-year. CommonSpirit projects it will avoid $8.9 million in CMS readmission penalties in 2026 and capture an additional $17 million in value-based care incentives tied to commercial and Medicare Advantage contracts.
The network’s eastern Colorado region piloted the platform in February 2025 across eight hospitals. During the pilot, 30-day all-cause readmissions among patients flagged as high risk fell from 27.9 % to 23.9 %, while all-cause mortality declined 18 % (hazard ratio 0.82; 95 % CI 0.68–0.99).
Based on these results, CommonSpirit accelerated the rollout to 130 additional sites by September, completing integration with Epic, Cerner, and Meditech EHRs.
Next steps include embedding a pediatric readmission model—externally validated by JAMA Network Open in February 2025—and expanding language-specific discharge instructions for non-English speakers. The network also plans to offer the tool to its 1,500 affiliated ambulatory clinics to create a unified risk-stratification backbone across the continuum of care.
About CommonSpirit Health
CommonSpirit Health, headquartered in Chicago and Denver, operates 138 hospitals and 1,500 care sites in 22 states. With $30 billion in net revenue and 150,000 employees, the Catholic-sponsored system delivers care to 2.5 million inpatients and 19 million outpatients annually. CommonSpirit holds a 4-star rating from CMS for quality and is a three-time recipient of the ECRI “Top 10 Health Technology Excellence” award.
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