HEALTH ALLIANCE MEDICARE 3310 Fields South Drive Champaign, IL 61822
Health and wellness or prevention information
The Health Alliance Star Volume 10
midwest
FALL 2018
Keep Yourself from Returning Too Soon Your Care Transitions Intervention Team is Ready to Help
FAST FACT:
Working closely with a care transitions intervention team can drop your risk of going back to the hospital by 20–50 percent.
Your medical team at the hospital just made rounds, and you’re told: You’re ready to go home. For some, it’s the news you’ve been waiting to hear. For others, it’s scary and troubling. This could mean returning to the home you know, or you may be headed to a new home, like an assisted living facility or inpatient rehabilitation center. No matter where you’re headed or how you feel about this change, you’ll face risks and challenges along the road to recovery. Without help and planning, healing after leaving the hospital (especially the first 30 days) can be a dangerous thing.
A Team of Support Your CTI team can support you and make sure your needs are met at home. Your team can go over your discharge notes with you and a caregiver, review your meds list, refer you to a pharmacist for more help with meds and plan your next steps.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that up to 20 percent of Medicare patients sent home from the hospital are readmitted within the first 30 days. And many times, it’s with bigger health problems.
Time and time again, research shows working closely with a CTI team drops a person’s risk of going back to the hospital within a six-month period by 20–50 percent. That’s incredible, and it’s one more reason to stay in touch with your CTI team.
Why? From person to person, problems look different—and sometimes there’s more than one issue—but research shows two major reasons are: 1. Not following discharge directions 2. Misunderstanding medicine doses
Look for a phone call from one of our CTI team members after you get settled in back home. You can also ask for one prior to leaving the hospital. And if you have questions before that, call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card.
The good news is that you’re not alone in your hospital-to-home move. You have a care transitions intervention (CTI) team ready to help.
Want help navigating the healthcare system?
Going from hospital to home doesn’t have to feel lonely, scary or overwhelming. Asking questions, getting answers and seeking help is important through this change—and you have a team ready to walk your road to recovery with you!
Wellness Rewards Checklist Overview Annual primary care provider (PCP) visit (must complete to receive $50 gift card) = 30 points Blood pressure reading from your most recent PCP visit = 5 points Body mass index from your most recent PCP visit = 5 points Breast cancer screening (based on recommended timelines) = 10 points Colorectal cancer screening (based on recommended timelines) = 20 points
Care coordinators and health coaches are here for you.
Eye exam = 10 points
Call 1-800-851-3379, ext. 28947, to get started or find out more.
Health risk assessment = 5 points
Flu shot = 5 points YourHealthAlliance.org account = 5 points (Call Member Services if you don’t have access to a computer.) Social activity = 5 point For info about what each item means, review the entire checklist at HealthAllianceMedicare.org/Perks or call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card.