What Case Managers Need to Improve Patient Outcomes While Reducing Hospital Readmissions

Case managers have a difficult task ahead of them: effectively coordinate the care of patients while keeping costs down. Their efforts have a lasting impact—one that could determine the future viability of their healthcare facility. Over time, the role of a case manager has evolved—adding preventing hospital readmissions to their running list of responsibilities. Unfortunately, sometimes they aren’t equipped with the necessary resources and insight to proactively prevent hospital readmissions.

Some of the top reasons for patient hospital readmission include:

• Poor communication between care teams
• Inadequate transition of care
• Lack of proper care instructions

Case managers are overdue for some support. There is a glaring gap in the industry for a solution that addresses the variety of factors that contribute to hospital readmissions.

Considering the level of oversight required to reduce hospital readmissions, the ideal solution that would provide case managers with the most value is a next-level referral system tied to a robust external relationship management system.

Why is it important to reduce hospital readmissions?

Strategizing to reduce hospital readmissions is vital to ensuring improved patient outcomes.

To demonstrate the need for a streamlined referral system and advanced external relationship management platform, it’s important to understand what is at stake.

Negative Patient and Provider Outcomes from Excess Hospital Readmissions

Whether as a result of poor communication between care teams, early discharge from inadequate coordination, or unclear care instructions, hospital readmissions have a detrimental effect on patient outcomes and hospital revenue.

Decreased Capacity: When patients are readmitted, hospitals miss out on an opportunity to accept new patients and increase profits. In caring for readmitted and current patients, hospital resources are further stretched.

Decreased Patient Satisfaction: According to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, there is a consistent link between overall patient-reported satisfaction and lower readmission rates. Analysis also suggests that there is an association between patient experience and outcomes. From a long-term perspective, the frustration around being readmitted can decrease the likelihood that patients will return to the hospital for future care.

Reduced Profit, Increased Penalties: Although hospitals are reimbursed for readmissions, those with a high number of readmissions from Medicare patients receive a penalty of up to 3% as part of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).

How much do readmissions cost hospitals?

In an effort to reduce readmission rates with financial disincentives, the HRRP campaign was instituted as part of the Affordable Care Act. For the last ten years that the program has been in effect, over half of all hospitals have been penalized.

This has totaled roughly $2.5 billion in penalties. Although the program is projected to save the government millions, each Medicare patient stay through September 2022 will equate to a 0.64% reduction in payment.

With readmission costs rising, there is a lot at stake to protect the bottom line. If case managers were given the tools to better support a value-based care model, efforts to reduce readmissions and ultimately improve patient outcomes will yield results via operational and risk costs savings.

How Case Managers Can Improve Patient Outcomes by Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates

Aidin’s software offers case managers opportunities to work better and faster using the same systems they’re already using. To help proactively reduce hospital readmissions, Aidin’s features directly speak to the barriers that case managers experience in securing appropriate, reliable patient care.

Here is how case managers can utilize Aidin to improve patient outcomes while reducing hospital readmission rates:

1. Streamline communication processes between the patient and care team

To remove any communication roadblocks between the patient and care team, Aidin leverages open interoperability. In the world of healthcare, not everyone communicates through the same means. Aidin allows users to interact with one another wherever they are—whether through fax, email, or both.

Instant messaging allows Aidin users to send HIPAA-compliant chats regarding sensitive patient information, and Aidin’s document reading capabilities helps to sort through incoming communications and assign them to patients or other care team members.

2. Centralize case manager processes

Aidin creates efficiencies by monitoring and managing all workflows and communications in one secure platform. To help staff members prioritize their time and focus their efforts, Aidin helps users build optimized checklists for each interaction in the coordination process.

Staff members can also track hand-off documents, digital records, and authorization paperwork through Aidin’s activity tracking capabilities. This helps to ensure all members of the patient transition process are always on the same page and deliver accurate care instructions to the next provider. Additionally, Aidin seamlessly integrates with EMR systems to allow clinicians and case managers to utilize single sign-on and retrieve vital patient information faster.

3. Find the best providers who can manage patient care post-discharge

Aidin is a door to the healthcare marketplace and allows facilities to develop relationships. In a digital auction environment, Aidin users can seek out the best services for their patients. Oftentimes, the provider that gets tasked with post-acute care of patients is determined by location proximity, rather than reputation and qualifications. In addition to location, Aidin users can filter preferred healthcare providers through the badge system that ranks facilities on their responsiveness, quality of care, and reliability.

Reduce hospital readmission rates with Aidin

For case managers, trusting that your patient is receiving the best care possible is priceless, which is what makes the Aidin platform so unique. Aidin’s biggest differentiator is its ability to determine who is worthy of your partnership and your patients’ business. By implementing advanced communication practices and gaining visibility into the larger care community, case managers have a better chance at successfully transitioning patients and therefore, improving patient outcomes.

Access our basic plan for free to see how Aidin can help your patients have a higher standard of care, receive the treatment and providers they need for their condition, and reduce their chances of readmission to the hospital. Learn more about our pricing plans, or get in touch with our team to set up a free demo.