Healthcare Headlines Blog
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March 6, 2023
By Dr. Dean French, MD, CPPS
Discharge decisions may contribute to the significant healthcare challenges associated with sepsis. Though sepsis patients are often discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), recent data demonstrates that referral to long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), which provide continued acute care for critically complex patents, can improve outcomes and reduce readmissions.
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January 18, 2023
By Dr. Dean French, MD, CPPS
Selecting the appropriate post-acute care (PAC) setting for a patient leaving the ICU is a key component of improving outcomes and reducing readmissions. This makes understanding the differences between PAC options essential.
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December 5, 2022
By Dr. Dean French, MD, CPPS
The healthcare industry continues to pilot new ways of delivering care that align patient, provider, and payer incentives. Medically complex patients remain a key population due to higher costs associated with the intensity of treatment and length of recovery time required. The latest innovation in care delivery, an expansion of the accountable care organization (ACO) called ACO REACH, is pushing further into addressing the needs of these patients. Learn more about the program and how long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) can play a role in achieving the goals of the newest model.
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August 29, 2022
By Sean R. Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Hospitals
Cedar Gate Technologies conducted a review of claims data of ACO beneficiaries treated at LTACHs and SNFs in Las Vegas. They found that readmission rates and Medicare spending were lower for patients who discharged to LTACHs, and lowest for those discharging to Kindred LTACHs specifically. Cedar Gate concluded that LTACHs can deliver improved outcomes and cost savings for complex patients.
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July 21, 2022
By Sean R. Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Hospitals
Medically complex patients, who comprise a small but growing percentage of the patient population, often require one or more post-acute care (PAC) providers along a recovery journey that can span a number of weeks. Ensuring patients are receiving the most appropriate level of care can help improve and expedite recovery.
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May 10, 2022
By Sean R. Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Hospitals
This article highlights how the MCG Health Clinical Indications for Admission to LTACHs have been revised based on the latest clinical research showing the benefits of timely discharge of ventilated patients to LTACHs.
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May 10, 2022
By Sean R. Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Hospitals
As America’s hospitalized patients become increasingly complex, so does their treatment.
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April 27, 2022
By Sean R. Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Hospitals
Throughout the pandemic, many Americans avoided seeking medical attention out of fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus. This was especially true among those with chronic conditions.
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February 10, 2022
By Sean R. Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Hospitals
Recent research indicates that acute respiratory failure mortality rates are continuing to increase, further heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic and demographic changes.
1 For patients experiencing pulmonary conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), specialized care after the ICU is being shown to play a critical role in patient survival and recovery.
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December 15, 2021
By Sean R. Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Hospitals
The American healthcare system, already financially strained and facing demanding demographic changes, has been further challenged over the past two years by the COVID-19 pandemic. This unique situation has revealed areas for improvement and highlighted the importance of health and safety.
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