Hospital program weds case, disease management.
To lower its readmission rates and inpatient length of stay for three high-volume chronic conditions, Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO, developed a program that combines clinical pathways with a cross-continuum disease management program. Community physicians refer patients to the program. Hospital-based care managers guide patients in the acute setting before handing them off to outpatient case managers, who coordinate the patient's transition to home care. Clinicians at Memorial sold administrators on the "care-case management" approach by arguing that increased inpatient efficiency would offset potential revenue shortfalls due to fewer admissions.
D019090:Case Management; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D003120:Colorado; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation