What's Happening?
The American Heart Association has introduced a new virtual care program, American Heart Association Connected Care, powered by Cadence, aimed at reducing heart failure readmissions. With chronic disease rates on the rise, nearly one in four heart failure patients are readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of discharge. This program seeks to address this issue by providing ongoing heart and cardiometabolic care to patients at home after their hospital stay. The initiative integrates with hospital discharge workflows, allowing hospitals to refer eligible patients to the program before discharge. Cadence enrolls patients, provides monitoring devices, and offers clinical support. The program is currently being piloted at four hospitals, including Texas Health Allen and Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.
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Why It's Important?
The launch of the American Heart Association Connected Care program is significant as it aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce avoidable hospitalizations. By providing proactive, personalized support outside of the hospital setting, the program seeks to extend high-quality care beyond hospital walls. This initiative could lead to a reduction in healthcare costs associated with readmissions and improve the quality of life for heart failure patients. The program's integration with hospital workflows ensures timely interventions, supporting patients from admission through recovery at home. This approach could serve as a model for other healthcare systems looking to enhance patient care and reduce readmissions.
What's Next?
The pilot program is underway at four hospitals, and its success could lead to broader implementation across more healthcare facilities. As the program demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing readmissions, it may attract interest from other hospitals and healthcare providers seeking to improve patient care and reduce costs. The American Heart Association may expand the program to include additional hospitals and regions, potentially influencing national healthcare policies related to chronic disease management and virtual care solutions.
