A new program at HealthPartners and Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., reduced preventable hospital visits by 65 percent among patients who frequently sought care in the emergency department.
HealthPartners and Regions Hospital implemented the program last August for more than two dozen at-risk patients. Nationally, these high-risk patients represent less than 1 percent of all patients, but they account for as much as 22 percent of all healthcare spending in the U.S.
A team of providers, including nurses, social workers, physicians, case managers, and other staff, worked with patients to create plans that increased access to primary care providers, specialists and programs. The care plan is embedded in a patient's electronic medical record and is flagged as a high priority to ensure that the information is visible to providers and staff at HealthPartners' five hospitals and 25 medical clinics.
The HealthPartners program implemented care plans for 27 high-risk patients. Data from two months before care plan implementation were compared to data two months after implementation. The number of ER visits and hospital admissions decreased 65 percent and resulted in an estimated cost savings of $511,000.
HealthPartners and Regions Hospital implemented the program last August for more than two dozen at-risk patients. Nationally, these high-risk patients represent less than 1 percent of all patients, but they account for as much as 22 percent of all healthcare spending in the U.S.
A team of providers, including nurses, social workers, physicians, case managers, and other staff, worked with patients to create plans that increased access to primary care providers, specialists and programs. The care plan is embedded in a patient's electronic medical record and is flagged as a high priority to ensure that the information is visible to providers and staff at HealthPartners' five hospitals and 25 medical clinics.
The HealthPartners program implemented care plans for 27 high-risk patients. Data from two months before care plan implementation were compared to data two months after implementation. The number of ER visits and hospital admissions decreased 65 percent and resulted in an estimated cost savings of $511,000.
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