An analysis of two years of data from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago suggests the use of Medical Home Network's MHNConnect care-coordination tool has contributed to significant decreases in readmissions.
The Medical Home Network is a Chicago-based collaboration that uses technology to improve how care is delivered to Medicaid patients.
"This data has proven MHNConnect to be a highly efficient and reliable care coordination tool, giving care teams access to their patients' pertinent information and activity, which helps provide a better understanding of the healthcare history and patient use of healthcare services throughout the system," Anthony Perry, MD, CMO of Rush University Medical Group, which has been using MHNConnect since its introduction, said in a statement. "Providing that information to the healthcare team empowers them to understand and meet their patients' needs and make the best healthcare decisions with those patients."
Here are four things to know about the findings.
• Compared with 2012, the baseline performance year, Medical Home Network's partner hospitals and clinics recorded a 12.4 percent reduction in hospital readmissions within 30 days of being discharged. Year two yielded a 24.8 percent reduction.
• In year one, the number of inpatient hospital days fell from the 2012 baseline by 3.7 percent. By year two, this number decreased by 24.4 percent from baseline.
• The average length of stay decreased 5.1 percent from the year one baseline and 20.2 percent by year two.
• Cost of care per member each month decreased 3.3 percent in year one and by 5 percent in year two.