February 2023 – The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
Intermountain Healthcare, Story Health partner on specialty care for patients with heart failure
Intermountain Healthcare, a leading health system of 33 hospitals in seven states, and Story Health, a health technology and services company that provides scalable specialty care beyond the clinic, have entered into a strategic partnership to improve access to specialty care for patients with heart failure.
The partnership combines Intermountain’s leadership in clinical quality improvement and excellence in healthcare delivery with Story Health’s specialty care platform solution to extend access to high-quality heart and vascular care for patients with heart failure.
Intermountain’s objective for the partnership is to enhance care for patients and provide an optimal experience for heart patients and their families – including improved adherence to medications and more personalization of care pathways to enhance care for patients.
Intermountain clinicians and Story Health coaches will work collaboratively to personalize patient treatments and stay in close contact with patients as they carry out their care plans.
Health coaches act as their healthcare partners and will be available to respond to patient questions via email, text, or calls – not only reminding them about important medication changes, but ensuring that patients have access to the medications and can safely make changes in between visits with their care providers.
The initial work between Intermountain and Story Health will be a program that implements Story Health’s platform into the Intermountain system. The program is already underway, and whitepapers with the program results will be published in late 2023.
VCU Health launches Home Hospital, the first hospital-at-home program in central Virginia
VCU Health has a new program that will allow patients to receive acute, hospital-level care from within the comfort of their homes. The Home Hospital program is the first of its kind in central Virginia and aims to serve nearly 2,000 patients during its first year.
Patients who would normally have needed to be in a hospital for acute care needs, such as sepsis, congestive heart failure or pneumonia, now have the option to receive the same level of care at home.
Hospital-level medical care is provided through video and remote patient monitoring, with a physician overseeing patients in the program. Acute care nurses and other staff will also visit patients in-person. They will be available around the clock to support patients and their families by making sure services and supplies, like oxygen, are delivered directly to the patients’ doorsteps.
Studies have shown hospital-at-home programs can improve a patient’s care experience and their health outcomes. Known benefits include reduced mortality, faster recovery and fewer readmissions to the hospital, among others.
Additionally, hospital-at-home programs are also considered a cost-effective alternative to hospital stays, which also contributes to more satisfactory experiences for patients.
Over the past several years, the demand has increased for home-based health care solutions. VCU Health has been a leader in the commonwealth in responding to this need. In addition to Home Hospital, VCU Health patients currently benefit from multiple VCU Health at Home options, including home-based primary care, primary and specialty telehealth appointments, remote patient monitoring as well as skilled home health and hospice care.