From excerpts on DailyHerald.com:
Sherman Hospital in the state has become the pioneer in offering mobile integrated healthcare, extending services beyond the confines of the hospital through on-site paramedics. Alongside Sherman, five other hospitals in locations like Rockford, Peoria, and Champaign have collaborated with local fire departments and ambulance services to roll out similar mobile services.
The Sherman initiative focuses on weekly home visits over a span of 30 days for selected patients post-discharge. The aim is to reduce readmission rates. Eligibility includes patients recovering from heart attacks or managing conditions such as pneumonia, diabetes, asthma, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Launched towards the end of December, the program is available free of charge, irrespective of participants' insurance status. Managed by Advocate Sherman Hospital's paramedic Ken Snow alongside a part-time colleague, the program provides detailed follow-ups.
"We review the discharge plan, medications, conduct assessments, and educate patients to help them manage their conditions at home," Snow explained. "We also communicate regularly with their primary care physicians."
While relatively new to Illinois, this form of mobile healthcare has already proven popular in states like Minnesota, Michigan, Arizona, and California.
A dedicated committee took nearly two years to craft a mobile integrated health plan for the Illinois Department of Public Health. Last year, the department's emergency medical services advisory council gave its approval for a pilot program.
According to national statistics, mobile care significantly reduces hospital readmissions, particularly in underserved regions with limited access to traditional healthcare or home health services.
"One of our initial concerns was whether this initiative aimed to replace conventional home healthcare," noted Valerie Phillips, co-chair of the committee. "Absolutely not. This fills gaps for individuals ineligible, unwilling, or unable to afford home health services. It's a targeted service."
So far, 22 patients have joined Sherman's program. Of these, 10 completed the full 30-day cycle without rehospitalization, while two were readmitted. The remaining participants withdrew for various reasons. This results in a 9% 30-day readmission rate for the program, compared to 12% nationally in 2015.
"Early outcomes suggest patients committed to this free program are less likely to need unnecessary ER visits or hospital stays," said Tina Link, Sherman's community outreach director. "As we engage more participants, we're identifying barriers affecting success and addressing them proactively."
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Thanks, Dan.
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