In a retrospective chart review, the quality of care given 531 hospitalized veterans during an index admission was examined to determine whether patient characteristics or aspects of treatment differed between 243 patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge and a control group of 288 patients not readmitted for at least six months. The strongest predictor of early readmission was a greater number of previous admissions. Patient instability in the five days before discharge also predicted early readmission. These results may help identify patients at higher risk of early rehospitalization. Ensuring that patients with higher rates of rehospitalization are stable before discharge may help reduce early readmission.