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Program Tailored to Reducing Senior Patient Readmissions
A program in the Chicago area is demonstrating the value of tailoring discharge plans to the particular needs of elderly patients with little support outside the hospital. These “solo seniors” often face complex medical challenges after discharge and can experience high rates of readmission without help from family and friends. With hospitals facing significant penalties from 30-day readmissions, the program could be a model for hospitals to emulate.
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Case Managers Can Help Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder
A hospital’s strange sounds, sights, and people can be overwhelming for a child with autism. But a case manager who watches for behavioral cues — and listens carefully to parents — can help that child cope more easily.
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Case Managers See an Influx of Elderly Patients in the ED
As baby boomers shift into their senior years, hospital EDs are seeing increasing numbers of older patients, a trend noted by a care coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic. These older, at-risk patients need case management services.
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Pulmonary Maintenance Programs Reduce Readmissions, Lower Costs
A hospital-based pulmonary maintenance exercise program can help patients with chronic lung conditions improve their exercise tolerance and regain some lung function, while reducing readmissions, according to the authors of a recent study. The potential cost savings are significant as well.
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An Escalation Team Can Improve Care for Complex Cases
Patients with complex needs can stretch the resources of even the most experienced case manager. These tend to be patients who have been admitted via the ED, not elective admissions. They are ready for discharge, but various barriers can cause complications.
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Person-Centered Case Management Tool Improves Discharge
A patient-centered, collaborative case management tool can help hospital case managers anticipate patients’ needs and ensure an appropriate discharge and transition of care. Inadequate care coordination can lead to rehospitalizations and expensive care.
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Managing and Mingling Hospital, ASC Cultures
Hospitals continue outsourcing to ASCs, causing intermingling of services and cultures that challenge both. Surgery centers decided they could improve the services in their own facilities better than in the traditional hospital environment. However, hospitals have made great strides in the improvement of their services and are eager to joint venture with surgeons in several ways.
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More Recovery Time Can Aid Patients After Hip Surgery
Research suggests some hip fracture surgery patients experience better outcomes after the procedure with a longer post-acute stay. Recovery also is easier when these patients do not have to engage in intensive physical therapy initiated immediately after surgery.
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Similar Safety Profiles for HOPDs, ASCs Post-Hip Surgery
A group of investigators have observed postsurgery complications for hip arthroscopy are similar for patients treated in both hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery centers. Further, there are low complication rates in both settings.
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Study Results Suggest ASCs May Not Be Lowest-Cost Option for All Procedures
Generally, ASCs are perceived as safe, high-quality, low-cost settings for many surgical procedures. Typically, ASC costs are lower than those in the similarly safe and high-quality settings of hospital outpatient departments, which also handle same-day surgeries. However, the authors of a recent study found there is one striking exception: outpatient joint replacement surgery.