#United States #New Orleans #Ochsner Health #Patient Care #myLaurel

Transforming Patient Care in the Gulf South

In March 2024, Ochsner Health, a prominent nonprofit healthcare provider based in the Gulf South, announced a groundbreaking partnership with myLaurel, a company focused on home-based acute and transitional care for elderly and medically complex patients. This collaboration aimed to enhance the patient care experience and reduce healthcare costs by streamlining the way care is delivered.

The Vision Behind the Partnership

The collaboration's centerpiece is the Acute Care at Home™ program, designed to provide timely in-home interventions that can significantly reduce emergency department (ED) admissions and unnecessary hospital usage. By enabling patients to receive care in their homes, the initiative not only improves health outcomes but also cuts down expenses for patients and healthcare systems alike.

Dr. Logan Davies, the Medical Director of Hospital Access and Throughput at Ochsner Medical Center, expressed his excitement about the partnership's achievements after its first year. He highlighted that the integrated approach, involving collaboration with hospital staff and daily patient team rounds, has led to vast improvements in identifying patients who will significantly benefit from the Acute Care at Home services.

Notable Results of the Program

The data from the partnership over the year is impressive and includes:

• - A 33% reduction in ED utilization within 30 days post-discharge from the ED or observation unit.
• - A 92% prevention rate in initial admission rates.
• - A reduction of over 90% in 15-day readmission rates.
• - Additionally, a 49% decrease in readmission rates within 30 days for patients discharged from inpatient units.
• - $1.8 million in estimated savings compared to a control group with similar medical and social conditions.

More importantly, the program has led to a 96 average net promoter score from patients and a 90 average score from providers. As a result, there has been a 34% reduction in out-of-pocket costs for patients benefiting from myLaurel’s services, along with over 3,200 saved bed days, allowing Ochsner to accommodate more patients in need.

Impact on Healthcare Delivery

Dr. Davies elaborated on the significance of these saved bed days. He stated that discharging eligible patients earlier means that Ochsner can provide care more effectively and safely at home. By discharging patients from the ED and hospital beds sooner, they improve not only the lives of those patients but also create room for 640 more admissions in the community for those who are most in need.

The Acute Care at Home initiative primarily targets medically complex patients with multiple health issues and those at high risk of hospital readmission. Dr. Marcy Carty, myLaurel’s President and Chief Medical Officer, emphasized the company’s clinical expertise and its commitment to keeping patients at home, noting that during the service period, myLaurel assumes all of the risk, reinforcing trust in their operational model.

A Model for Future Healthcare Innovation

With the success of this pilot program, Ochsner Health plans to expand this innovative care model to all seniors across its main campus and not solely within specific value-based arrangements. This effort showcases their dedication to improving patient satisfaction and optimizing hospital utilization.

Moving forward, both Ochsner and myLaurel aspire to serve as a model for other healthcare systems looking to enhance care delivery while efficiently managing costs. Their plans for 2025 include launching the program at multiple additional hospitals.

About myLaurel and Ochsner Health

Headquartered in New York, NY, myLaurel is a pioneering healthcare organization committed to elevating patient experiences and achieving cost efficiencies across health systems along the Eastern and Southern U.S. They focus on providing specialized home-based care solutions beneficial for patients requiring complex care.

Ochsner Health, recognized for excellence in Louisiana healthcare, provides service across 46 hospitals and over 370 health and urgent care centers. Notably, it ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Louisiana for 13 consecutive years according to U.S. News & World Report. With a mission to inspire healthier lives, Ochsner continues to care for patients from all over the United States and beyond, showcasing a greatly skilled workforce of over 38,000 team members.