Healthcare Headlines Blog

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 transitioning patients to long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), which provide continued acute care for critically complex patients, can reduce length of stay, readmissions, and overall spending. Read Full Post

Tim came to Kindred Hospital on a ventilator after experiencing respiratory failure. But he had a goal: To recover completely enough to escort his daughter down the aisle and dance with her at her upcoming wedding. With the help of the hospital's interdisciplinary team of caregivers, Tim achieved his goal. Read Full Post

Ensuring that patients leaving the ICU or med/surg unit have access to the most appropriate post-acute care (PAC) setting is a key component of improving outcomes and reducing readmissions. This makes understanding the differences between PAC options essential. Read Full Post

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. Read Full Post

Cedar Gate Technologies conducted a review of claims data of ACO beneficiaries treated at LTACHs and SNFs in Las Vegas. They found that Medicare spending and readmission rates were lower for patients who discharged to LTACHs, and lowest for those discharging to Kindred LTACHs specifically. Cedar Gate concluded that LTACHs can deliver efficient and cost-effective care for complex patients. Read Full Post

Medically complex patients tend to experience longer recovery journeys and are more likely to readmit to the ICU after hospitalization. For these patients, it is essential to reduce setbacks and readmissions. Learn about two care coordination strategies that can improve care efficiency and how Kindred Hospitals are taking them a step further. Read Full Post

Compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season, providers and payors have sought new strategies to address respiratory failure. For patients experiencing respiratory failure conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), specialized acute care after the initial hospital stay is proving to play a critical role in improving patient outcomes, reducing readmissions and decreasing the severity of long-term effects. Read Full Post

Compounded by the pandemic and driven by increased consumerism, patients are more interested in their healthcare than ever before. With patient satisfaction being an important aspect of value-based care, health systems must remain educated and focused on patient engagement preferences. Read Full Post

With consumers’ growing interest in their care, physicians and payors are increasingly seeing the benefits that greater involvement can have with regard to patient satisfaction and outcomes – even after discharge and especially when discharged directly home. Read Full Post

Compounded by the pandemic and driven by increased consumerism, patients are more interested in their healthcare than ever before. With a growing importance placed on patient satisfaction, providers and payers are seeking ways to engage medically complex patients and finding that this involvement can improve outcomes. Read Full Post