Tacoma, Wash.-based St. Joseph Medical Center, part of Tacoma-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, is launching a new at-home care program through a partnership with recovery company Contessa.
The plan will combine remote monitoring, virtual visits and in-person care. Initially, the program will only be available to Medicare fee-for-service patients, according to a Feb. 2 Virginia Mason news release.
The Contessa model reduces readmission rates by 44 percent, the release said.
"As we launch VMFH Home Recovery Care, we look forward to defining a new standard for care delivery that improves patient outcomes while lowering the overall cost of care," Virginia Mason CEO Ketul Patel said. "This innovative care model allows us to offer our patients a more convenient way to receive care while increasing our inpatient capacity for patients with the highest acuity."