LAFAYETTE, La., June 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LHCG), the preferred post-acute care partner for hospitals nationwide, recently teamed with Ochsner Clinic Foundation in the foundation's successful effort to secure a $3.8 million Health Care Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Health Care Innovation Award, one of 107 such awards granted nationally, will fund efforts by New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System to improve the care of stroke patients in the acute and post-acute settings. Ochsner is one of more than 60 hospitals nationwide that partner with LHC Group for the delivery of post-acute care services.
"Around the country, our hospital partners trust LHC Group to manage the transition of patients from acute to post-acute care," said Don Stelly, a registered nurse and LHC Group's president and chief operating officer. "We've demonstrated our ability to deliver high-quality care at home, preventing avoidable readmissions, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient satisfaction. We're pleased and honored to be part of Ochsner's innovative work to enhance care for stroke patients."
Under the winning program proposal, LHC Group will work with Ochsner to manage the continuing care of stroke patients as they transition to the post-acute setting. Two telemedicine‑enabled systems called "Stroke Central" and "Stroke Mobile" will allow care providers to monitor patients, evaluate outcomes and check on medication and treatment adherence on a real‑time basis both in the hospital and in the home. The program is expected to reduce readmissions and save an estimated $5 million over the next three years.
The Health Care Innovation Award winners were announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Winning projects were those that featured the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs.
About LHC Group Inc.
LHC Group Inc. is a national provider of post-acute care services, providing quality, cost-effective health care to patients within the comfort and privacy of their home or place of residence. LHC Group provides a comprehensive array of healthcare services through home health, hospice and private duty locations in its home-based division and long-term acute care hospitals in its facility-based division.