Category: News & Media

Congratulations go out to MetroWest Medical Center which, in collaboration with MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice, has been awarded the 2010 Betsy Lehman Patient Safety Recognition Award. The award honors leadership and innovation in patient safety and the development of systems-based solutions through the implementation of best practices. The theme for this year’s award focused on the importance of transitions in care across the healthcare continuum.  Jane Pike–Benton, Executive Director at MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice, presented their innovative approach at the most recent statewide STAAR Learning Session and sent this along to the Home Care Alliance:

“ At Metro-West, we implemented a multi-faceted approach to the transitioning of patients that was designed and implemented via a strong cross-continuum collaboration between the home health agency and the hospital. The model includes:

• the implementation of a ‘teach back tool’ for patients with heart failure both within the hospital and through their transition to home with home care services
• the development of a standardized Heart Failure Protocol with front loading of home care visits, the use of a standardized teaching tool based upon evidenced-based research, an increase focus on medications, and the integration of phone calls by the home care case managers on non visit days
• post hospital telephonic support via the use of a calling center in conjunction with the MetroWest HomeCare Nurse Specialist intervening for these patients when gaps in care are identified
• the implementation of a Transition Care Coach who is also a MetroWest HomeCare Nurse who meets with the patients bedside prior to discharge from the hospital
• the implementation of a Palliative Care Team with members from both MetroWest Hospice and MetroWest Medical Center

These initiatives demonstrate the importance of cross-continuum collaboration to our patients and to our health care system. Our entire team is committed to implementing new and innovative ways to provide care for our highest risk patients, and to demonstrate the value that home health care offers to hospitals and other health care partners.”

Among those sending congratulations to MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice and MetroWest Medical Center on their innovative approach to patient care across the continuum was HHS Secretary Judy Ann Bigby, MD.  Her comments as to MetroWest as a “shining example” were posted on the Commonwealth Conversations Public Health Blog.

Thank you to Jane and her team for demonstrating leadership in this crucial area of care transitions and readmission reduction.

Today , Governor Patrick released proposed legislation “Improving the Quality of Health Care and Controlling Costs by Reforming Health Systems and Payments.” The bill calls for  “Encouraging the formation of integrated care organizations, commonly referred to as accountable care organizations, comprised of connected or integrated groups of health care providers that achieve improved health outcomes and lower the costs of care.

The bill does not explicitly define provides and services that must be encompassed in an ACO instead defining an ACO as “an entity comprised of provider groups which operates as a single integrated organization that accepts at least shared responsibility for the cost and primary responsibility for the quality of care delivered to a specific population of patients cared for by the groups’ clinicians; which operates consistent with principles of a patient centered medical home and satisfies the other requirements of this chapter; which has a formal legal structure to receive and distribute savings;  The bill does anticipate that “certain providers that are not primary care providers may be ACO network providers in more than one ACO, as set forth in regulation by the division.”    The “division” which has authority to draft authorizing regulations is the Division of Health Care Finance & Policy.

The bill calls for greater transparency in payment arrangements and requires that by March 31, 2012, the “Division will “document, categorize and publish all current payment arrangements in the commonwealth between payers and providers.”   Medicaid participation in the ACO model is envisioned by 2014.

The Alliance will be reviewing this legislation with the Legislative and Policy Committee and the Board of Directors and welcomes member feedback. as to whether home health’s role should be more explicit in this legislation.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.