In March of this year, Palestine Regional Medical Center launched a mobile integrated health care program for our patients with certain chronic illnesses that are considered to be at high-risk for readmission to the hospital. The goal of this program is to build a community partnership that will ultimately provide these patients with the ability to better manage their conditions outside of the hospital setting.
Roy Finch, Chief Executive Officer of Palestine Regional Medical Center said, “As a leader in our community, we strive to provide the highest quality care possible, both inside and outside our hospital walls. We are committed to our region’s overall well-being.”
When patients are dismissed from the hospital, some do not have support systems, resources, and other means to follow the plan of care that was created for them. Some of these patients then end up returning to the hospital and being readmitted for care. With the help of our EMS paramedics, we are able to monitor these individuals for the first thirty days after discharge and provide information to help them recognize what the disease process is, how to manage the symptoms, and when to call for help.
Currently, we are working with patients who have congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. EMS staff will visit each patient on a weekly basis and assist them with monitoring their blood pressure, weight, and medications. The information collected during these visits will be reported to their primary care physician, so that he/she can have real-time data about how the patient is doing at home.
The patients for this program are identified through our Case Management department, during their hospitalization. They are provided an overview of the program and must provide consent to become a member of the program.
