DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a pioneering step, Southwestern Health Resources, the clinically integrated network for UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources has joined forces with Encompass Health, a leading national post-acute health services company, to provide quarantined seniors in enhanced care management with some added support – Care at Home Packages.
At this critical time SWHR and Encompass Health have sought an innovative approach to enhance care coordination for quarantined seniors exposed or diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition to monitoring and coordinating care and treatment, vital care packages have been added to their interventions.
Herminio Alvarez was a patient who received a package containing essential personal items. The package included toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, protein drink and bars, soap and other personal items. Many of these have been in short supply and hard to come by, especially when stuck at home. There is also useful care information and dos and don’ts related to staying safe.
“It is great to team up with such an innovative network in the DFW market such as SWHR,” remarked Bud Langham, chief strategy and innovation officer at Encompass Health – Home Health & Hospice, adding, “We are so pleased to bring some relief and joy to Mr. Alvarez and countless others that Encompass Health serves across the nation.”
“Our collaboration with Encompass Health has created a network-to-doorstep pathway, enabling us to reach patients in greatest need right where they are – in the home,” said SWHR Vice President of Care Management Yolanda Rodriguez. She added, “As the coronavirus pandemic hopefully abates, we want to continue to think of out-of-the-box ways to augment care and patient experience.”
In addition to Encompass Health, SWHR is working with other healthcare organizations to provide services that embody comprehensive care management: check-in calls to patients, calls to help patients with transitions of care, and important in home health assessments, which are often vital for patients who are living with chronic illnesses, and even just in time care through innovative EMS and home based medical solutions. The focus of SWHR’s Care Management team is to give patients and families greater confidence in their care plans.
“Now more than ever, patients want and need personalized care with a human touch, especially when we can’t touch,” Rodriguez said. “Our programs with Encompass Health help us make those connections possible in a touch by proxy.”
Southwestern Health Resources
Southwestern Health Resources, which blends the strengths of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Health Resources, includes a clinically integrated network of 29 hospital locations and more than 5,000 providers, committed to being the national leader in population health. With more than 650 points of access to care, this provides for higher value and allows patients to access services across a full continuum of medical needs. The network serves people across 17 counties in North Texas. In total, Southwestern Health coordinates care for more than 700,000 patients, aligned with commercial health care plans and Medicare programs. SWHR operates the nation’s highest rated Next Generation Accountable Care Organization.