ST. PAUL, MN--(Marketwire - November 15, 2010) - HealthEast Care System is pleased to announce that it has received one of two Medica "Raising the Bar: Rewarding Innovation in Health Care Reform" awards for its Care Navigation Strategy.
Sixteen entries from health care systems and individual hospitals and clinics were reviewed by a Medica committee, and HealthEast's Care Navigation Strategy was deemed to be ahead of the curve in: undertaking clinical reform, making unique changes to improve quality outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, and decreasing the cost of health care with proven results. At HealthEast, the strategy has been responsible for a reduction in hospital readmission rates and successful identification of medication discrepancies in the home following discharge.
HealthEast received $25,000 to continue expansion of Care Navigation; this is the third award that the strategy has won in the past year. Both HealthPartners and the Minnesota Hospital Association have recognized the inspired and integrative nature of this work and have also presented HealthEast with innovation awards.
Craig Svendsen, MD, HealthEast Chief Medical Quality Officer, noted that care navigation has been successfully implemented through several improvements in connecting navigators and providers across the continuum of care. One notable improvement is HealthEast's transition coaches who partner with patients to provide post-discharge follow-up coaching, including the key components of:
- Physician follow-up within seven days of discharge
- Understanding warning signs and symptoms
- Medication reconciliation
- Use of a Personal Health Record tool
"This approach, which offers multiple, integrated components to surround patients with customized care, has led to a transformational experience for both patient and provider. It also reflects on HealthEast's mission, vision, values and goals and its commitment to best practice care," said Dr. Svendsen.
HealthEast is the first system in the nation to have been certified as Level II transition coaches by Eric Coleman (the creator of the transitions coach model) and the first in the Twin Cities to use this model, delivering patient-centered care that is safe, timely, effective, equitable and efficient.
HealthEast Care System is a community-focused, non-profit health care organization that provides innovative technology, compassionate care and a full spectrum of family health services. HealthEast includes Bethesda Hospital, St. John's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, and Woodwinds Health Campus as well as outpatient services, clinics, home care, and medical transportation services. Practicing financial responsibility, HealthEast is the largest, locally-owned health care organization in the Twin Cities' East Metro with 7,300 employees, 1,200 volunteers, and 1,400 physicians on staff.
Contact Information:
For more information:
Lynn Sadoff
HealthEast Marketing and Communications
Phone: 651-326-3590
Cellular: 612-723-8991
Pager: 651-864-1023
E-mail: Email Contact