Client Background
The client is a renowned healthcare provider based in Virginia who operates a medical center for patients with heart complications. Over time, the client has more than 3000 patients and gained popularity for delivering value-based care to patients.
Business challenges
While managing patients with heart diseases, the client has faced several challenges that have affected revenue and care delivery. Some of the business challenges the client faced are:
1. A significant rate of patient hospital readmissions
The client’s medical center has experienced a significant rate of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients being readmitted to the hospital after discharge. This increased patient hospital readmission rate has put a strain on the healthcare providers of practice and signifies the potential gaps in post-discharge care.
2. Lack of medication adherence by the patient
One significant challenge the client has faced is that patients do not adhere to the prescribed medication plan after discharge from the medical center. This non-adherence to the medication plan affects the patient's expected health outcomes.
3. Relentless communication challenge and patient involvement
Post-discharge, it became difficult for care providers to communicate with patients for ongoing treatment to resolve their health concerns. Also, due to limited communication facilities, the patients were unable to communicate with care providers about any issues or suggestions they had. This lack of communication affected the quality of care and patient satisfaction rates.
4. Challenges in Empowering Patients
The client faced difficulties in encouraging treatment adherence and making patients aware of their diseases. The unavailability of empowering patient functionality affected the patient’s participation in the treatment plan and expected health outcomes.
Solution
The client approached Medarch Inc. for eCareMD software, and we have implemented it into the client’s practice after several requirement-gathering sessions, demonstrations, and approval from the client. Post-implementation of software, the client has experienced a reduction in patient hospital readmissions and emergency visits.
Solution Highlights
Our eCareMD software is equipped with various advanced technological features that streamline the practice workflow and enhance the delivery of care.
1. Periodic Care plan review
The eCareMD software enabled care providers to evaluate the progress of the care plan and update medications, lab results, vitals, barriers, interventions, symptoms, etc., on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. This review helped care providers customize the care plan as per the requirements. This customization in the care plan at specified intervals reduced the patient hospital readmission rates.
2. Customizable reminders for medications
Following the prescribed medication routine is a crucial aspect of post-discharge care for patients. To ensure the patients take medications according to the prescribed schedule, our eCareMD software enables care providers to configure reminders by type (email, SMS), frequency (daily, weekly, monthly), template, etc. This functionality improved patients' medication adherence, thereby increasing their expected health outcomes.
3. Secure, ongoing communication channel
To enhance patient confidence and obtain expected health outcomes, eCareMD software enables care providers to make voice/video calls to patients, Send text messages, and chat with the care team. Using this functionality, care providers can connect with patients at any time for clinical reviews, suggestions, or concerns the patient has. Also, patients can communicate with care providers in real-time using the patient portal. This increased patient-provider communication increased the patient’s confidence and participation in the treatment plan. Ultimately, the patient’s health outcomes have been improved.
4. Patient empowerment through educational materials
The eCareMD software enabled care providers to send educational materials to patients through the platform. These educational materials empower patients about the advantages of adhering to the prescribed treatment plan, make them aware of their disease, and provide lifestyle recommendations, exercises, and diet recommendations.
This educational material increased patient participation in the treatment plan and subsequently improved patients' health outcomes.
Value Delivered
1. Reduction in hospital readmission rates by 40%
The periodic care plan review and health progress evaluation of patients resulted in a reduction in patient hospital readmission rate by 40%.
2. Improved patient health outcomes and medication adherence
The customizable medication reminders functionality increased patients' medication adherence and ultimately resulted in improved patient health outcomes.
3. Increased patient-provider communication
The secure communication channels of eCareMD increased communication between patients and care providers. This increased communication resulted in improved patient confidence and health outcomes.
4. Improved patient participation and confidencee
The educational material functionality resulted in increased patient participation in the treatment plan and increased patient confidence.