Spaulding Cambridge Receives Grant from Mass Health Policy Commission to Improve Post Acute Care Transitions
Cambridge, MA – The transitions from an acute care setting through the various levels of post acute care can often be some of the most challenging areas of the health care spectrum to navigate for clinicians, patients, and families. There can be many layers of coordination needed between facilities to ensure the safest and smoothest transitions possible. As more research has shown that better utilization of post acute care with planning at the acute care bedside can reduce downstream impacts such as hospital readmissions, providers are looking at ways to improve the patient experience and improve financial performance. Spaulding Hospital Cambridge (SHC) along with representatives from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) recently launched a new 18 month initiative to improve the pathways for the chronically ill patients SHC serves. Through the HPC’s Health Care Innovation Investment program, and specifically its Targeted Cost Challenge Investments, SHC will receive $746,000 to create a model to better coordinate these post acute care transitions for this at risk patient population.
“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,” said Nancy Schmidt, Senior Vice President of Referral Relations and Network Development, Spaulding Rehabilitation.
The program at SHC titled “Post Acute Care Transitions (PACT) Program” will 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. The goal of the PACT program is to decrease the length of stay for patients, overall medical expenditure, and readmission rates for the chronically critically ill population at SHC.
“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,” said 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.
About Spaulding Hospital Cambridge
Spaulding Hospital Cambridge is a Medicare-certified Long Term Care Hospital (LTCH) with 180 beds. A member of Spaulding Rehabilitation, it is a regional leader in health and elder care and accredited by the Joint Commission. Its programs include complex medical, cardiac care with telemetry, ventilator weaning, pulmonary care, oncology and neurological rehabilitation, and post-organ transplant care. Specialty services available include peritoneal and hemodialysis, pain management, wound care and chemotherapy. For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.
About the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) is an independent state agency that develops policy to reduce health care cost growth and improve the quality of patient care. The HPC's mission is to advance a more transparent, accountable, and innovative health care system through its independent policy leadership and investment programs. The HPC's goal is better health and better care - at a lower cost - across the Commonwealth.
Visit us at Mass.gov/HPC. Tweet us @Mass_HPC.