Modern Healthcare article “Hospitals need better ways to follow patients after discharge” published September 1, 2016 identifies the ever changing Healthcare landscape focusing on patient participation in their healthcare services. Medicare and Health Plan carriers are contracting with providers for medical services based on episodes of care that will require continual communication with the patient. Hospitals will no longer be able to focus solely on the care provided within the walls of their facility. Now, they will have to follow patients well beyond discharge.

As Medicare and Healthcare companies implement bundle payment programs (also known as an Episode of Care), they (hospitals/providers) will be required more and more to manage patient outcomes 30, 60 and even 90 days from discharge.

In order to successfully manage the episode of care, more outreach communication with the patient will be required. Which means, they will have to be creative and thoughtful. We understand the importance of patient participation in their healthcare because of our experience through our products that are directed at “serving and supporting the patient”. The key is establishing a relationship with the patient where they know they can depend on you to be caring, available and informative in plain language they can understand. Similar to Dave Stenerson, CFO, OSF Healthcare, Peoria, IL comments relating to breaking down information into smaller pieces, “it’s about removing the mystery”.

We understand that HealthCare is not a one size fits all industry, which means Hospitals and Health Plans will need the ability to reach patients utilizing multiple means. The pilots being conducted by Hospitals in this article focused on electronic communication, taking the first step at reaching the patients. In this technological savvy time, there are still populations of patients that will not be reached via electronic communication, at least not initially. We believe that utilizing both electronic communication and scheduled phone calls yield the best results in connecting with the patient, providing meaningful information and obtaining data to ensure the patient is receiving the attention needed. We agree with Mathew Fenty, director of innovation and strategic partnerships at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Bethlehem, Pa observation that the technology pilots being implemented are “not a replacement for human interaction”. It’s our experience that some demographics of patients are not technology savvy, specifically in the population of patients receiving Hip replacement and Knee surgery. This is why we focus on the human interaction and utilize a technology platform to enhance the patient’s experience.

There are some other interesting technologies being piloted, such as, the electronic pill bottle technology being trialed by University of Pennsylvania called Heartstrong. The technology, along with the electronic messages, provide notifications when it is time for patients to take their medication. However, we are still not convinced this will completely provide the necessary results. Based on our experience, augmenting the technology with outreach to patients to follow-up and ensure medications were taken stimulates compliance, thereby improving outcomes.

The leadership team at A3i have extensive experience in the Health Care arena within Pharmaceutical, Device Implants, Patient Services and Health Plan Provider community. Through the years of experience, we’ve had the opportunity to discuss Bundles/Episode of Care directly with Health Plans across the country. It was exciting to see and read this article which makes this approach to Patient focused health care come to fruition.  At A3i, We Serve Patients, which is why we know that patient focused post discharge communication will have great benefits for both the Health Care provider and the patient.  This will improve the quality of follow ups, increase the patient engagement and boost the patient satisfaction, which will stimulate better health outcomes and fewer turnarounds.