HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CareCentrix’s evidence-based approach to transitioning care to the home was reinforced by a new study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. A team from Duke University Medical Center and Community Care of North Carolina found that timely outpatient follow-up after hospital discharge significantly reduces patients’ risk of readmission.1
Just as the study observed with North Carolina Medicaid patients, CareCentrix’s HomeSTAR® program has reduced hospital readmissions nearly 36 percent by identifying and engaging with high-risk patients, sending nurses into those patients’ homes and intervening quickly when they are needed. The program also helps ensure physician follow-up within a seven-day timeframe after discharge from the hospital. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, $41.3 billion was spent between January and November 2011 to treat patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge.2
“This is further evidence that one of the most effective ways to reduce readmissions, improve patient outcomes and increase cost savings is to make sure patients have that critical follow-up visit with their doctor,” said Kirsten Anderson, MD, MPH, CareCentrix Chief Clinical Officer. “This is one of the pillars of CareCentrix’s HomeSTAR program, which also involves coordination between the patient, caregiver, health plan case manager, hospital, primary care physician and our network of dedicated HomeSTAR nurses.”
HomeSTAR, which stands for Successful Transition and Recovery at Home, is a transitional-care program designed to meet the unique needs of patients as they are discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility. By assessing patients’ current conditions, as well as their medical history, the program is able to evaluate patients’ risk of readmission and take steps to prevent it.
Beyond helping ensure that patients receive proper follow-up care, the program includes medication management, healthcare service coordination, and in-home and telephonic coaching from nurses to promote self-sufficiency and lower total costs of care.
“This study further underscores the need for our HomeSTAR program, which not only sees positive results in patient outcomes but also in patient satisfaction,” Dr. Anderson said. “In fact, 95 percent of patients in the program would recommend HomeSTAR to a family member or friend.”
About CareCentrix
CareCentrix is the leader in managing care transitions to the home. Headquartered in Hartford, Conn., CareCentrix has approximately 1,400 employees and a nationwide network of nearly 8,000 credentialed provider locations. CareCentrix serves leading health plans across the U.S. with a range of products and services that leverage the home and community-based settings. We help payers and providers close the gaps in care while helping lower costs and improving patient outcomes. We provide optimal access to quality home care for more than 23 million lives by connecting providers with patients and helping them navigate the complex home care system. Our extensive range of services provides support for patients and their families in every step of the healing process, including home health, durable medical equipment (DME), home infusion, sleep management and HomeSTAR, which helps improve care transitions and reduce readmissions. Visit www.carecentrix.com.
1 “Timeliness of Outpatient Follow-up: An Evidence-Based
Approach for Planning After Hospital Discharge” Ann Fam Med March/April
2015 vol. 13 no. 2 115-122
2 http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb172-Conditions-Readmissions-Payer.pdf
