Strong Memorial to Create "Virtual Care Centers" to Cut Readmissions

The University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center announced its Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester will use a grant to create "virtual care centers" to reduce readmissions.

The Greater Rochester Health Foundation granted Strong Memorial Hospital nearly

Dr. Marc Berliant

$600,000 over three years to reduce 30-day hospital readmissions by implementing a series of interventions for high-risk, chronically ill patients through a "virtual care center." The project will begin in October in two of Strong Memorial's general medicine units with a goal of reducing readmissions 20 percent. The interventions will include the following:

•    Medication reconciliation
•    Enrollment of patients in URMC's patient portal, MyChart
•    Collaboration with social workers to identify and eliminate readmission risk factors, such as lack of a means of transportation to and from follow-up appointments
•    Enrollment of patients in supplemental transition coaching and telehealth programs led by the Visiting Nurse Service
•    One- and three-week post-discharge multidisciplinary meetings to ensure communication among patients' healthcare providers

Marc Berliant, MD, chief of URMC's general medicine division, is the principal investigator of the project.

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