NW Ohio ACO Contracts with AmeriCare to Provide Care Management Services

TOLEDO, Ohio - Jan. 8, 2014 - PRLog -- AmeriCare Home Health of Toledo and Northwest Ohio Accountable Care Organization (ACO), a joint venture of the Toledo Clinic and the University of Toledo Physicians, have collaborated to provide care management services to ACO’s beneficiaries that have, or are at high risk for emergency department (ED) utilizations. The program aims at improving quality and reducing avoidable ED visits.

   Initiated by a referral from the Northwest Ohio ACO, AmeriCare’s services are directed to improve patient safety, patient’s ability to better understand and manage their health conditions, facilitating a healthier lifestyle, and receiving health services in a timelier manner. Within 48 hours from the time of the referral, an AmeriCare registered nurse visits the patient and completes a thorough assessment. Through the assessment, the registered nurse determines the healthcare needs of the patients, and eligibility for skilled home health services, or AmeriCare’s Prevent/ Post Emergency Department Observation (PEDO) program. Under the PEDO program, a patient receives four in-person visits, and three focused telephone checks by a nurse and/or a social worker, over a 30-day period. As follow-up services, patients also receive a monthly telephone call for another three months after discharge from the program.

   The home-based services also feature daily tele-monitoring of essential bio-markers such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and weight. AmeriCare’s home telehealth program helps in the early detection of changes in health conditions that may require more intensive, and/or coordinated care. It also serves as a tool to keep the patient’s physician, home health staff, and other healthcare providers, and family members informed of the patient’s condition on a daily basis.

   The leadership at AmeriCare and Northwest Ohio ACO are highly confident that the program will reduce avoidable ED visits, and positively contribute to patient quality of life.

AmeriCare Home Health of Toledo, a SAI Group affiliate, offers a complete range of home health services such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, home health aide services, medical social work and home telehealth. For more information, please call (419) 472 5350, or visit www.theSAIgroup.org .