From hospital to home: A model for safer transitions

< p > Patients with multiple chronic conditions, polypharmacy and unmet social needs are often at risk for serious drug therapy problems during the transition from hospital to home. A new model has made these transitions safer and decreased hospital admissions and emergency department visits for patients. < /p > < p > Developed by the University of Tennessee in partnership with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, the SafeMed model uses a primary care-based team, which includes physicians, pharmacists, nurses and community health workers, to form a support network for high-risk and high-needs patients as they transition from the hospital to the outpatient setting. < /p > < p > A new < a href= " https://www.stepsforward.org/modules/safemed-transition-care " target= " _self " rel= " nofollow " > module < /a >  from the AMA’s STEPS Forward™ collection of practice improvement initiatives can help practice teams implement the SafeMed model, which enables them to work closely with patients to build strong relationships that make it easier to coordinate and manage their care. < /p > < p > < strong > How they did it in Memphis < /strong > < /p > < p > The University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, which contributed this STEPS Forward module after   < a href= " http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/ama-wire/post/physicians-teach-their-secrets-success " target= " _self " > winning < /a >  the AMA-MGMA Practice Innovation Challenge, saw 30 percent fewer hospitalizati...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news