Post operation care pilot project successful
Home Health United is helping reduce health care costs by providing same day post-operative in-home care for day surgery patients from the St. Mary's Dean Ventures Surgery and Care Center in Madison.
Rather than admitting post-operative patients to the hospital overnight, the Center sends them home where they receive two visits from an HHU nurse beginning the evening of the surgical procedure. The nurse completes the post operative teaching, reviews pain management with the patient, performs an assessment of the incision, drainage and dressing and makes sure the patient can manage safely at home. He or she reviews surgical guidelines and makes sure the patient can tolerate fluids and food.
Rick Bourne, president and CEO, and Terri Peterson, RN vice president clinical services, first proposed the program in November of 2008. Lynne Willer, RN, home health program director, Deb Plendl, patient care manager, Pat Leonhardt, intake manager and Katherine Knoepfler and Nancy James Rose, referral coordinators, coordinated the clinical processes and care.
The pilot project conducted in March involved 14 patients who underwent micro diskectomy surgery for back pain or back injury. On-call nurses from throughout the HHU service territory made the visits. It was successful in that none of the patients were readmitted to the hospital or urgent or emergency care.
"We only see this growing as we demonstrate how home care support and intervention will prevent rehospitalization," said Lynne. In the future, HHU could provide care to patients after a mastectomy or tonsillectomy as well as other procedures.
"For the pilot project Dean Health Plan approved two visits. However, if there were any complications our nurses will work with the physician to modify the plan of care to meet patients needs," Lynne explained.
In addition to the good outcomes, HHU received praise from the patients who expressed appreciation for the support and intervention home health nurses provided. Another result of the successful pilot was a referral from Riverview Clinic in Janesville for a patient who had shoulder surgery.
Lynne thanked HHU staff for supporting this project with their commitment to quality care.
"We now have data to take to other payers showing that this is a quality-evidenced approach to post-operative care and an opportunity to reduce health care costs," she concluded.