In this exclusive Q&A session, we delve into the innovative approach of myLaurel’s Acute Care At Home™ initiative, led by Marcy Carty, MD, MPH, President and CMO of myLaurel. This groundbreaking program offers a seamless transition from hospital to home for patients, promising improved outcomes and operational efficiencies for healthcare providers. Dr. Carty sheds light on the key objectives, financial implications, patient benefits, operational enhancements, and future expansion plans of this transformative healthcare solution. Join us as we explore the paradigm shift in healthcare delivery that myLaurel is spearheading with Acute Care At Home™.
1. Can you provide an overview of myLaurel’s Acute Care At Home™ initiative and its key objectives?
myLaurel’s Acute Care at Home service provides a bridge from the hospital to home, allowing the transition from acute medical needs (e.g. once to twice daily IV medications, blood tests, vitals) to transition care and then gradually to self-care to occur in the comfort of home. Early discharge reduces the risk of hospital-acquired conditions, improves physical conditioning, and reduces medication errors.
Care is provided through a combination of in-home and telehealth care though a high-skilled clinical care team consisting of physicians, NPs, RNs, and paramedics.
myLaurel’s key objectives include decreasing the length of hospital stays, improving patient throughput across emergency departments, observation units, and inpatient and post-surgical sites, increasing bed capacity to boost hospital ROI, and maximizing the effective use of healthcare resources.
2. How does Acute Care At Home™ address the financial strains faced by hospitals and health systems, particularly in managing acute care utilization?
Hospitals nationwide are facing occupancy challenges, with most functioning at upwards of 80% capacity. New solutions must focus on improving hospital throughput and increasing capacity by reducing lengths of stay, costing health systems around $3,000 per patient per day. There is a positive correlation between days hospitalized and avoidable costs. myLaurel eliminates these financial strains by providing Acute Care at Home to discharged patients ahead of schedule, shortening lengths of stay, freeing up beds, and ultimately, providing patients with a better care experience in the comforts of their home. Further, as part of its unique, at-risk model, myLaurel does not receive compensation for services if a patient is hospitalized within the 30-day service period.
3. What are the key features and benefits of Acute Care At Home™ for patients and healthcare providers?
Features and benefits for patients include:
- Quicker and more comfortable recovery at home.
- Shorter hospital stays and reduced hospital bills associated with extended lengths of stays and hospital services, which, on average, can cost a patient over $3,000 per day.
- Reduced exposure to hospital-acquired conditions including infections, deconditioning and mental health challenges.
- Continuity of care within a patient’s established network of trusted providers.
Features and benefits for healthcare providers include:
- Reduction in the length of hospital inpatient stays, increased bed capacity, and streamlined patient flow, all contributing to an increased ROI.
- Improved patient satisfaction scores for the provider and health system.
- Better patient compliance with treatment plans, follow-up appointments, and clinical recommendations.
- Decreased mortality rates associated with HAIs, which cost U.S. healthcare systems upwards of $45 billion per year.
- At-risk service, meaning if a patient is hospitalized while under myLaurel’s care, the hospital system does not pay for myLaurel’s services, aligning financial incentives.
4. Could you elaborate on how expedited care delivery and continuous monitoring contribute to enhancing patient outcomes and optimizing operational efficiency?
Expedited care delivery reduces the likelihood of disease progression and complications, resulting in better patient outcomes and reduced morbidity and mortality rates. Continuous monitoring ensures an accurate view of a patient’s health status, allowing for early detection of deviations or complications. This proactive approach enables myLaurel’s care teams to intervene promptly, preventing adverse events and minimizing the need for future emergency interventions or hospital readmissions.
By utilizing services for expedited care delivery and continuous monitoring, hospitals and health systems can enhance resource utilization and streamline workflow management. This service enables them to maximize the effectiveness of available resources–– freeing up beds, equipment, and clinicians to focus on the most critical cases. This translates to shorter wait times and more satisfied patients. Furthermore, proactive monitoring facilitates efficient resource allocation, enabling healthcare providers to prioritize care based on patient’s clinical requirements, thus reducing inefficiencies and mitigating the risk of resource wastage.
5. How does MyLaurel ensure coordinated treatment plans and open communication channels between clinical staff and the patient’s care team?
MyLaurel ensures coordinated treatment plans between their clinical staff and the patient’s primary care providers through telehealth check-ins, frequently updated medical records, and open communication channels. These check-ins, facilitated by myLaurels’ on-site response team, are led remotely by myLaurels’ nurse practitioners or physicians. Within 24 hours of these telehealth sessions, clinical notes are shared with the patient’s primary care provider or care team, fostering collaboration and information sharing. Following myLaurel’s service period, the patient is scheduled back into their health system network, typically through primary care, to keep the continuity of care within the health system.
Additionally, the telehealth provider helps escalate any identified needs, such as pharmacy requirements, social determinants of health, and quality gaps to relevant resources. These regular check-ins provide opportunities to discuss the patient’s progress, address concerns, and collaboratively coordinate treatment plans, ensuring comprehensive and personalized care for the patient.
6. Can you share any success stories or case studies that highlight the impact of Acute Care At Home™ on patient care and hospital operations?
This service has demonstrated its value for individuals with intricate health conditions like diabetes. Poorly managed diabetes can progress to diabetic nephropathy and potentially renal failure. That’s why it’s crucial to manage diabetes effectively to prevent or delay complications. myLaurel care teams offer personalized support to help patients manage their diabetes, ensuring they maintain healthy blood sugar levels and receive the proper medication to minimize the risk of emergent situations like renal failure.
Acute Care at Home is beneficial for hospital operations as this service can lower the length of stay for patients with diabetes, decrease hospital admissions due to diabetes-related complications, and minimize hospital readmissions. These improvements can enhance hospital operations by freeing up beds, optimizing patient flow, and ultimately, saving costs for the hospital. Through at-home care services, this proactive and personalized care for patients with diabetes can enhance overall patient satisfaction and outcomes, bolstering the hospital’s reputation and fostering stronger patient-provider relationships.
This is one of several complex conditions myLaurel treats. The list also includes acute kidney injury, cellulitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, pneumonia, COVID-19, and more.
7. What are the future plans and expansion goals for MyLaurel’s Acute Care At Home™ initiative?
myLaurel plans to expand its services to hospitals, health systems, and payers in Central and Southeast Florida this year while widening its footprint in existing territories, including Louisiana, New York, and New Jersey.
