Spaulding Hospital Cambridge (SHC) has launched an 18-month initiative—the Post Acute Care Transitions (PACT) Program—to help improve the post acute care transition pathway for the chronically ill patients that SHC serves.
The initiative is funded by a $746,000 grant from the Mass Health Policy Commission (HPC), via the HPC’s Health Care Innovation Investment program, and specifically its Targeted Cost Challenge Investments, notes a media release from SHC.
The PACT program is designed to integrate longitudinal social work and case management with a Post Acute Care Network (PACN) of providers ranging from skilled nursing care, home care, and more. Its goal is to decrease the length of stay for patients, overall medical expenditure, and readmission rates for the chronically critically ill population at SHC.
“Among the greatest contributors to health care costs and negative patient outcomes are hospital readmissions. We feel through effective management and creating dynamic collaborations, we can create a model that could greatly enhance the care these patients receive while improving the value we bring to healthcare in Massachusetts,” says Nancy Schmidt, senior vice president of Referral Relations and Network Development, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, in the release.
“Massachusetts is home to some of the most creative, forward-thinking health care leaders in the world. Through the HCII program, we are able to tap into this incredible strength to address some of the biggest challenges we face in health care,” adds David Seltz, HPC executive director. “Spaulding Hospital’s initiative is a primary example of what makes Massachusetts a national leader and health care thought lab and supports the HPC’s commitment to transformation and innovation in our health care system.”
The goal of the Targeted Cost Challenge Investments is to support innovative delivery and payment models that are poised to be taken to scale and make a meaningful impact on the Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark in years to come. Eligible applicants and their partners proposed initiatives that will reduce the cost of care to the health care system while improving quality and access in eight priority areas of high spending. The HPC is funding 10 Targeted Cost Challenge Investments totaling $6,614,881. Awards range from $420,000 to $750,000, for an 18-month period of performance, the release explains.
Spaulding Hospital Cambridge is a member of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network.
[Source: Spaulding Hospital Cambridge]
