SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 30, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matrix Medical Network, a national leader in prospective medical assessment services for Medicare Advantage (MA) plan members, has launched a national award program called WOW!, recognizing the professionalism and care management skills of its Nurse Practitioner (NP) clinical field organization. The WOW! award is presented each month to NPs who, in the course of performing a prospective medical assessment, discover conditions that require immediate attention and take action accordingly. Today, Matrix NPs who recently received WOW! awards share their stories.
Mary Brennan. Sometimes members' needs can be taken care of with a simple phone call. Other times it can be like a treasure hunt. During an assessment, the member mentioned to Mary that her oncologist had recommended that she have a nutritional drink every day to help her maintain her weight, but the member said she wasn't doing that because she could not afford it.
Mary set out to help. The first step was to contact the member's health plan, Mary talked to the nutritional services team who said they needed a written prescription. Mary then contacted the oncologist, who agreed to write the prescription. Shortly thereafter, the prescription was faxed to the nutritional team and the member was notified that the nutritional supplement would be provided.
Kathie Mates. The member had a colostomy followed by an ileostomy, a surgery that creates an opening in the stomach (called a stoma) that is used to move waste out of the body. The opening was flat, making it difficult to use the provided device that holds body waste, which in turn, had caused injury to the surrounding tissue. The member told Kathie that she had contacted the hospital wound care nurse, but she had not received help for her situation.
Having worked in wound care herself, Kathie contacted some former colleagues to get advice about different equipment for the member. Kathie also left supplies with the member to help her better manage the existing appliance and powder to help heal the skin around the stoma.
In a follow-up conversation, the member told Kathie that the new device had arrived. In the evening, Kathie went back to the member's home to show her its proper use. During the visit, Kathie noticed the member's skin was healing nicely and urged her to contact her surgeon to see if the stoma could be revised for better device application. With the member saying she was confident in using her new device, Kathie invited her to call if she needed moral support or other help.
Tera McNally. The member was very depressed and teary throughout Tera's visit. A month prior, he had been to the emergency room for depression and was frequently calling the crisis intervention hotline. The member did not have a primary care physician (PCP) and had not been to a provider since 2009. Among his problems: no transportation and very little money. Tera called a local low-cost health clinic where she reserved the first available appointment. Tera then contacted a neighbor and secured transportation. For additional help, Tera provided the member with information and contact numbers for the local Agency on Aging's free and/or low-cost transportation services.
During a follow-up call to the member, Tera learned he had completed his appointment and was now on medication for his depression.
Pam Mucha. Pam was seeing a transition of care member who had just returned home from a nursing facility following two hospitalizations in the past six weeks. The woman had been treated for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. Key to the member's treatment was a blood-thinning medication that requires regular blood draws for monitoring. With the member being completely homebound, the blood draws needed to be performed by a mobile service.
In reviewing the paperwork, Pam noticed that the order for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and home health had been cancelled due to a misunderstanding with the transfer of care from the nursing facility to the PCP. Knowing the member needed blood drawn the next day for essential monitoring, Pam made calls to ensure the member would receive her necessary treatments and services and scheduled blood drawing. Pam called the member the next day, confirming the mobile blood-draw unit had scheduled a visit for later that day and the PCP was assuming care and new orders for home health services were being reordered by the end of the week.
About Matrix Medical Network
Matrix is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., and provides in-person prospective medical assessment and transition of care services that help medical plan clients manage costs and provide high-quality care. Having pioneered the use of a national network of highly-trained employee Nurse Practitioners to conduct medical assessments in plan member homes or nursing facilities, Matrix is dedicated to improving the quality of health care in the U.S. through offering affordable home-care service options; helping clients efficiently, accurately, and securely collect plan member information; and providing data analytic and risk adjustment solutions that improve clinical outcomes. Matrix is owned by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, a leading private equity investment firm. For more information, visit www.MatrixForMe.com.