Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2014 - (Page 34)

better together Here's how medical teams are navigating care coordination and using it to weather the rapidly changing health care environment. By Kathleen Meredith, M.S.N., MBA, RN F or children's hospitals, improving the health of children and providing the best care possible is always the goal. To achieve this, communication among staff is essential, but it's not always easy. The key is to simplify the care coordination process wherever possible, clearly defining team members' roles and responsibilities. While making changes to how the team works takes time and dedication, the payoffs for improved care coordination are tremendous. According to Greta Fowinkle, director of case management and utilization management at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., if care coordination is done correctly, a hospital will improve clinical outcomes and meet length of stay goals. The principles of care coordination remain essentially the same across organizations, but as locations change, so do the logistics. The roles of those involved may be blended, for example, one team 34 children's hospital s today Spring 2014 member might provide case management and utilization review; or roles may be divided with a dedicated team member managing the entire case. With the growth of the pediatric complex chronic population, the medical home concept has gained popularity. Providing smooth transitions with care coordination is a key concept, whether in medical homes or within the hospital walls. Case managers provide efficiencies, decrease emergency department (ED) visits and reduce hospitalizations. Care coordination models that link the ED, inpatient, outpatient/ clinics, medical homes and community are needed for patients with medical complexity and their families. Making the investment Whether a patient receives care at the physician's office, hospital or from a home health provider, all have different definitions of value. Regardless of setting, the key is an integrated continuum of value, which means providing the right care at the right place at the right time. And doing this requires an investment in people, processes and systems. There have been many recent improvements in population health management, discharge management and post-discharge follow up, underscoring the growing importance of care management within the children's health care community. While children's hospitals have always focused on the mission of providing high-quality care and improving patient outcomes, there is now a growing need to look at the positive financial impact that strong care management and population health initiatives can provide. The number of Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees continue to grow while reimbursements decrease. And many children's hospitals are affected by increased risk-sharing childrenshospital s.org http://www.childrenshospitals.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2014

Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2014
Contents
Editor's Note
President's Message
Reader Commentary
Everyday Heo
Transforming Care
Measuring Up
Data Breach: 10 Ways to Prepare and Respond
A Fresh Take
Balancing the Business of Care
Better Together
Public Policy Update
Board Member Q&A
Child's Story

Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2014