WELLSTAR
Wellstar MCG Health was the first hospital in Georgia to receive the waiver, in September 2022. The programme provides a continuity of care approach from acute care services to observation at home, post-admit management, enhanced monitoring at home and chronic disease monitoring at home. It has also tried to ensure patients can escalate and de-escalate within the construct of their homes by building a longitudinal care model to treat patients through virtual means.
“ For Wellstar MCG Health, these programmes are a really important mechanism for addressing the disparities in healthcare across our state – particularly in rural populations,” Dr Lyon says.“ Our Virtual Care at Home programme works closely with patients to provide the level of care they would expect in the hospital, just at home, instead.
“ This is really important, because not only do patients benefit from being in their own homes – particularly as populations get older – but being in a normal, comfortable environment prevents complications and is also less costly for the healthcare system. So now, we’ re able to apply the same resources, just with better care.”
Since 2021, Wellstar MCG Health has treated 1,086 patients with 6,538 days. The patients who were inpatients and were enrolled into the programme, had an overall Length of Stay( LOS) reduction of 1.56 generating direct cost savings to the institution of US $ 2.24mn( US $ 4K / patient). Having taken the approach of a longitudinal model, Wellstar MCG Health helps patients no matter what their needs are along the healthcare continuum.
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12 augustahealth. org