Implementing chronic care management strategies helps stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum: individual patients, providers, emergency departments and more. With solutions like remote chronic care management now available for patients with specialty conditions, providers can help to significantly decrease hospital readmission rates for patients who have ongoing health concerns.
The statistics are staggering: patients on Medicaid who received transitional care via this form of management were 20% less likely to be readmitted to the hospital during the following year. They were less likely to have multiple readmissions, overall.
Fifty percent of patients who are readmitted don’t receive follow-up care from physicians. In one study, care transition programs that included contact after hospital discharge helped reduce 30-day readmission rates from 11.9% to 8.3% and 90-day readmission rates from 22.5% to 16.7%.
Admission rates can also drop with chronic condition management. One study found that emergency department visits declined by 11% in the first six months of applying these strategies. Psychiatric admissions decreased by 43% and medical inpatient admissions went down by 56%.
Patients involved in chronic condition management programs have a better view of the healthcare system in general. That means they’ll be more likely to get timely check-ups and screenings and follow their treatments. This improves patient outcomes and makes emergency interventions less necessary.
What Is Chronic Condition Management?
Chronic condition management is a healthcare approach that focuses on supporting patients who have chronic illnesses. It is a proactive and preventive strategy that helps patients more effectively manage their conditions, while also preventing complications.
Remote management offers the chance to monitor how patients follow treatments, including medication schedules. It also allows healthcare providers to offer prompt screening exams and check-ups to gauge disease progression. This can all be accomplished through a combination of care coordinators, provider outreach, and virtually accessible devices and tools, like the solutions we provide at Metaphy.
Ways in Which Remote Monitoring Can Prevent Hospitalizations and Reduce Bed Days
One of the most important ways in which remote chronic condition management strategies help prevent hospitalizations is by allowing for early intervention.
Using real-time data gathered from the various devices and tools these programs rely on, as well as vital identification of at-risk patients, makes it easier to offer help before the patient’s condition gets worse.
Remote monitoring also provides the chance for healthcare professionals to make adjustments to medications, depending on the data they’re receiving. Conditions that have flare-ups, for example, need careful patient monitoring to avoid emergency situations.
When providers spot changes in the incoming real-time data or through ongoing communication with patients, they can act quickly to prevent the serious deterioration that would require hospitalization. Patients can also receive education on the signs that warn a crisis is coming, allowing them the time to get help.
In instances when preventing a hospital stay isn’t possible, chronic condition management strategies also offer assistance with reducing bed days. One crucial benefit these programs offer is medication reconciliation, which helps avoid the types of medication errors that require lengthier hospital stays.
Additionally, chronic condition management strategies that involve a follow-up call or visits 72 hours after hospital discharge can prevent readmission and longer subsequent stays.
How MetaPhy Health Is Leading the Way
Chronic condition management is essential for improving patient outcomes and relieving some of the strain on healthcare facilities around the country. At MetaPhy Health, we partner with specialty providers to offer solutions that assist with condition management for people with multiple chronic illnesses.
Our MyCare Devices help keep track of vital patient data, while our MyCare Coordinator services help implement a structured care plan that prioritizes medication management and regular physician check-ins. Because our services align seamlessly with those of healthcare providers, we make offering patients comprehensive care easier. Click here to schedule a demo with our team.
