PLANO, Texas - August 12, 2014 - ZeOmega Inc., today announced that its Jiva™ population health management solution has helped Indiana's largest not-for-profit health plan - MDwise - reduce readmission rates by 66 percent and lengths of stay by 61 percent, while achieving a potential annual savings of $6.5 million as part of a special initiative.
According to MDwise, a significant number of its members were seeking skilled nursing-level of care at a network of statewide skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). While the stays were generally short-term (less than 30 days), they resulted in more readmissions and emergency department visits, so MDwise and the SNFs joined forces to devise a solution.
"When we noticed the trend, we got together to ask how we could improve the transition of care, make it work better for our members, and decrease readmissions," said Dr. Caroline Carney, chief medical officer of MDwise.
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MDwise and the SNFs developed a strategy to optimize average lengths of stay and prevent readmissions by enhancing concurrent review, case management, and care transition programs. They relied heavily on MDwise's existing Jiva platform and its advanced, bi-directional communication capabilities. While Jiva enhanced collaboration between stakeholders on patient-centered care plans, it also helped ensure seamless transitions between various service points.
Having access to more complete information and the ability to communicate in real-time has led to more informed decision making, streamlined the care process, and made a critical difference for both MDwise and the SNFs.
"We now have one continuous plan of care, on one single platform," said Dr. Carney. "It brings care management and pharmacy data into the SNFs before patients arrive, which has been a key factor in helping us make significant progress on our goals."
Through Jiva, the SNFs work with MDwise to discharge members within their benefit limitations, instead of "flipping" them to traditional Medicaid programs. The SNFs now notify MDwise when mutual patients are admitted and discharged, enabling MDwise's case and disease management staff to following up with them. These same staff members also furnish the SNFs with up to four months of patient pharmacy data upon notification of an admission. Hospitals involved in the process have less work to do in identifying facilities for patients because the SNF network is willing to accept them. Overall, the positive experience with MDwise has led the SNFs to begin accepting members from MDwise's other lines of business as well.
