What Constitutes an Effective Hospital Readmission Program?
I am sure you have seen the reports, including the 2009 article in the New England Journal of Medicine (Jenks, et al), that highlight the cost and prevalence of 30, 60 and 90 day hospital readmissions. I think it’s safe to say that we all agree that this is a major issue that our healthcare system needs to address.
Where we don’t all agree is how to get there. Organizations across the country are looking for effective initiatives and innovations to reduce these costs. In their quest, some organizations are looking for easy solutions, such as the simple scheduling of follow-up visits post discharge. However, as detailed in a new study from the Mayo Clinic, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, siloed, quick-fix initiatives, while very important, alone will not provide the true behavior change needed for measurable reductions in avoidable hospital admissions and readmissions.
The key to reducing avoidable hospital admissions and related long-term costs are solutions that truly transform the way we deliver and the way patients engage with care. Follow-up visits are extremely important in the vital post-discharge period. But it is far more important to engage patients in their care post discharge and beyond–arming them with the knowledge and information they need for better self-care and daily monitoring and feedback that keeps them engaged and empowered.
The Mayo Clinic study did not show an effective solution, but there are many studies that do—and those studies typically involve a more comprehensive approach that engages and empowers patients. In fact, Mayo is now implementing one such approach, using Pharos Innovations’ Tel-Assurance® platform to assist.
At Pharos, we understand that reducing hospital readmissions is complex, and requires a more full-service approach that actually changes behavior. Our goal has always been to provide a simple and effective way to reduce hospital readmissions for chronically ill patients: to keep them healthier and out of the hospital and save millions of dollars in healthcare costs in the process.
Reducing hospital admissions and related costs is a serious problem. Successful solutions DO exist. But these are not siloed approaches. Successful solutions address and change behavior in the long term, integrate the patient directly into the care process and forge opportunities for real time care coordination.
