Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/483154
14 Executive Briefing: Reducing Readmissions CipherHealth Don't let your patients go home with minimal understanding of their care plans. Echo allows you to record important information such as discharge instructions, medication information, and personal messages at the time of discharge. Contact us to learn more about how Echo provides enhanced adherence and patient experiences. Echo increases patient engagement, compliance, and health literacy, leading to better outcomes and patient empowerment. http://www.cipherhealth.com/echo info@cipherhealth.com 888-917-9996 "I remember creating a spreadsheet with medication guidelines for myself because it was before many EMRs printed discharge instructions. I also don't believe I received any follow-up calls or contact from my doctor, with the exception of my scheduled fol- low-up appointments." Mr. Silverzweig isn't alone; poor care coordination and post-dis- charge practices leave patients feeling confused and frustrated, decreasing the likelihood that they'll adhere to medication and discharge instructions and increasing the likelihood of an un- planned readmission. Tackling the source of the problem Mr. Silverzweig knows firsthand the impact post-discharge care (or lack thereof) can have on making the transition from the hos- pital to home easier and avoiding unplanned readmissions. That said, preventing unplanned readmissions means hospitals must first tackle the crux of the problem, namely identifying what causes patients to make unplanned trips back to the hospital after being discharged. All too often, the reasons are relatively small issues that could have been prevented if they were addressed earlier with a simple phone call. "The issues we see patients having the most trouble with are usually pretty simple," said Mr. Silverzweig. "For example, we look at whether the patient understands their discharge instruc- tions, whether they are able to get and take their medication, and whether they have a follow-up appointment." Some hospitals have found automating their follow-up phone calls has helped identify patients who are at risk of being readmitted to the hospital, connect patients to the appropriate channels of care, improve patient satisfaction and avoid unplanned trips back to the emergency department. For instance, the Voice tool from CipherHealth reaches out to pa- tients after they have been discharged to identify individuals with satisfaction or clinical concerns. Patients that report having an issue are then put in touch with the hospital staff who can address the problem. According to CipherHealth, hospitals that have employed Voice have seen considerable success with increasing satisfaction, improving workflow and reducing readmissions with the pro- gram. "One piece of information about a patient in different people's hands can be the difference between an unplanned readmission or simply a phone call or consultation." — Zach Silverzweig, co-founder of CipherHealth