A National Study to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations through Home Care

The Problem

Avoidable hospitalizations are the number one patient concern facing homecare agencies, hospitals and the healthcare community nationwide. As homecare becomes a viable option for helping to solve the growing debt of hospitals, homecare agencies are under incredible pressure to reduce their avoidable hospitalization rates.

The Project

This national study identified best practices used by the most successful homecare agencies to help reduce their rate of avoidable hospitalizations. Delta, NAHC, Fazzi Associates and all advisors for the study believe that this national study may be the single most important national study in the history of homecare. It addresses an issue that has been named as a major goal of all five of the most significant initiatives in healthcare reform - Care Transitions, ACOs, Medical Homes, Bundling, and Value Based Purchasing.

Goals

The Delta Study to Reduce Hospitalizations had two goals: First, to identify the best practices that are used by hospital-based and non hospital-based homecare agencies to reduce avoidable hospitalizations. Second, based on the findings, initiate a systematic effort that results in homecare agencies not only learning about the best practice findings, but also adopting the findings.

Delta's initial findings were presented at the 30th NAHC Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

The Delta Study to Reduce Hospitalizations was sponsored by Delta Health Technologies and co-sponsored by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Advisors were the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign, NAHC Forum of State Associations, Community Health Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission, American Physical Therapy Association. Fazzi Associates served as the project management and leadership for the study.

Download a free copy of the Study to Reduce Hospitalizations Report.