AMDA national engagement in care transitions.

To the Editor: I was delighted to read your excellent editorial entitled ‘‘Transitions’’ in the November 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. The issue of safe movement for all patients, especially frail elders, has rightly assumed a seat at the table of national health care concerns. The projected annual cost of $17.4 billion in readmissions for 2003–2004 claims data on Medicare hospital readmissions nationally puts a financial price on the problem, but obscures the dreadful human toll inflicted. I wish to respectfully bring to the attention of the editor and your wide readership that the American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) has not only identified the problem that unsafe transitions presents to our patients, but has been active in steps nationally to improve care as patients traverse the long-term care continuum. AMDA actions chronologically thus far include the following: