HQSI | Reduce Re-Hospitalization

It’s a story repeated far too often. An older man or woman is released from the hospital following inpatient treatment, only to be readmitted less than a month later. Beyond cost considerations, re-hospitalization is disruptive to the lives of both patients and their families. Put simply, no one wants to be in the hospital.

Nationally, within 30 days of discharge, more than 17% of Medicare patients are re-hospitalized. It’s estimated up to 76% of those readmissions may be preventable. What can be done to reduce hospital readmissions among Medicare recipients?

Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc., (HQSI) is one of only 14 organizations nationwide selected to create pilot projects designed to respond to this critical need. An area encompassing 44 communities in Burlington and Camden counties was chosen to be the focus of this pioneering effort.* Within this area, the 30-day re-hospitalization rate among Medicare patients is nearly 20%.

Over a three-year period, HQSI, local healthcare providers, and community partners will work together toward improving care and reducing re-hospitalization rates. Special emphasis will be placed on those at highest risk of re-hospitalization. That includes patients who experience acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, pneumonia, or have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or diabetes.

Research indicates that older patients are at special risk when they transition from one healthcare facility to another, or return home following hospitalization. Key elements of the New Jersey Care Transitions Project include better communication among healthcare providers regarding individual patients, promotion of “best practices” at all levels of treatment, and recognition that fully informed patients can and should take an active role in healthcare decisions.

HQSI is partnering with Virtua Health, as well as non-Virtua healthcare providers, on this extraordinary project. Virtua Health is Southern New Jersey’s largest multidisciplinary healthcare provider, with service sites in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties.

The pilot study will concentrate on communities served by Virtua Health’s hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and physician practices, as well as other nursing homes, home health agencies, private practice physicians, dialysis facilities, patients, families, community-based organizations, and stakeholders in the targeted communities. The project promises to have a profound impact on the lives of Medicare patients. At the same time, it’s an innovative approach to reducing healthcare costs.

An initial meeting of community leaders and elected officials will take place at 9:00 am on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at the Lake Center in the Foundation Board Room at Virtua Health’s corporate headquarters in Marlton, New Jersey.

According to Martin P. Margolies, Chief Executive Officer of HQSI, “Collaboration, communication, and community involvement are at the core of this project and central to the mission of HQSI.”

“Virtua Health is proud to collaborate with HQSI, one of fourteen healthcare systems across the nation selected for the Care Transitions Project,” said Richard P. Miller, Virtua’s President and CEO. “The goals are aligned with our mission and our STAR Initiative, which is to create an outstanding patient experience. We look forward to working with other agencies in the community on this project.”

Funding comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

East Brunswick-based HQSI, the nonprofit federally designated quality improvement organization for New Jersey, partners with healthcare providers, organizations, communities, and consumers to make healthcare safer, more efficient, more effective, and more accessible. Our methods include assessing opportunities for improvement, sharing best practices, and designing strategies with measurable and sustainable results. Our goal is for consumers to receive high-quality, patient-centered care with the best possible outcomes. Additional information about HQSI may be obtained by calling the organization at 1-732-238-5570, or sending an E-mail to beinreinhofer@njqio.sdps.org.