The Camden (N.J.) Coalition of Healthcare Providers, known for pioneering a program that targets emergency department "frequent flyers," is looking ahead despite a recent study challenging the ability of its program to reduce readmission rates, NJ Spotlight reports.
The program, which received years of good press and is now used around the country, connects patients with medically and socially complex health conditions to social workers and nurses, who coordinate outpatient care after a hospital discharge. However, the study found Camden Coalition's care coordination program did not produce better readmission rates compared to patients in a control group.
Camden Coalition leaders say the study won't be the final word, according to NJ Spotlight. As it has done in the past, Camden Coalition is carefully reviewing the study and plans to adjust its strategy based on the findings, CEO Kathleen Noonan told NJ Spotlight.
The coalition has already pulled two lessons from the research: It needs to track metrics beyond readmissions and potentially add additional coordination of wraparound services like behavioral health.
Read more about the response here.
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