First Illinois hospital program providing paramedic followup at home

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Sherman Hospital has become the first hospital in Illinois to receive approval for offering mobile integrated health care — a new model that delivers medical services outside of traditional hospital settings, using on-staff paramedics. In addition, five hospitals across Rockford, Peoria, and Champaign have partnered with local fire departments and ambulance services to provide similar mobile care options.

The Sherman Hospital program focuses on weekly home visits for 30 days for patients who have recently been discharged from the hospital. The initiative aims to reduce readmissions by providing follow-up care. Eligible patients include those who have survived heart attacks or suffer from conditions such as pneumonia, diabetes, asthma, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Launched in late December, the program is available at no cost to all patients, regardless of their insurance status, according to Ken Snow, a paramedic who oversees the program along with a part-time colleague. “We review the discharge plan, go over medications, perform an assessment, and offer education so patients understand their condition and how to manage it at home,” he explained. “Afterward, I report back to their primary care physician.”

While mobile integrated health care is still relatively new in Illinois, it has already gained traction in states like Minnesota, Michigan, Arizona, and California. A special committee spent nearly two years developing a mobile integrated health care plan for the Illinois Department of Public Health, which was approved last year by the state’s emergency medical services advisory council.

National data suggests that mobile care can significantly reduce hospital readmissions, particularly in areas where access to healthcare is limited or traditional home health services are not available. “One of our main concerns was whether this program would replace traditional home health services,” said Valerie Phillips, co-chair of the committee. “The answer is no. It’s meant to fill a gap for people who aren’t eligible for home health services, or who have chosen not to use them, or simply can’t afford them. It’s a niche service designed to help those in need.”

To date, 22 patients have participated in the Sherman program. Of those, 10 have successfully completed the 30-day period without being readmitted, while two were readmitted and others dropped out for various reasons. This results in a 9% readmission rate for the program — a significant improvement compared to the 12% readmission rate among similar patients in 2015, according to hospital data.

Tina Link, director of community outreach at the hospital, noted that early results show the program is effective in preventing unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations. “As we continue to visit more patients, we learn about the challenges they face and work to address them,” she said. “This is an ongoing process, and we’re committed to helping more people succeed.”

Thanks, Dan

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