Hospital Case Management – May 1, 2010
May 1, 2010
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To prevent readmissions, coordinate services post-discharge
The best way to prevent hospital readmissions is to make sure patients are better managed and receive the care they need after they leave the hospital, states Donna Zazworsky, RN, MS, CCM, FAAN, vice president of community health and continuum care for Carondelet Health Network in Tucson, AZ. -
Make sure patients understand disease
When Donna Zazworsky, RN, MS, CCM, FAAN, vice president of community health and continuum care for Carondelet Health Network in Tucson, AZ, ran a community case management program for high-risk congestive heart failure patients, she was surprised to discover that many of the patients did not understand their diagnosis or their discharge instructions. -
Follow-up visits critical to prevent readmissions
Patients are at highest risk for readmissions during the first week after discharge, Donna Zazworsky, RN, MS, CCM, FAAN, points out. -
Team targets readmission for heart failure patients
After St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA, launched a cross-continuum heart failure program, the rate of readmissions for heart failure patients dropped from nearly 30% to just 17%. -
Critical Path Network: Transition reduced readmission rate for COPD patients
By developing and following a comprehensive plan to improve care and transition to the community for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), UPMC St. Margaret Hospital has reduced the readmission rate by 16% for patients with a primary diagnosis of COPD and by 27% for patients with pneumonia and a secondary diagnosis of COPD. -
Critical Path Network: Be careful in discharging patients on Friday
Patients who are discharged to the hospital with home care on Fridays are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within a week than patients discharged on other days of the week, according to Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq., a Washington DC-based attorney specializing in health care issues. -
Critical Path Network: CPT changes a start, but more could be done
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code changes in place in the 2008 Physician Fee Schedule improve the ability of physicians and other providers to document their telephone evaluations and management services, but they don't go far enough, according to the Case Management Society of America (CMSA). -
Access Management Quarterly: Don't miss a chance to collect
Lack of the right technology to automate time-consuming, error-prone processes can put patient access departments at a big disadvantage. -
Access Management Quarterly: Revamp access with these 10 technologies
"A number of exciting collection technologies have evolved over the last few years.