#United States #Nashville #Medicare #ACO #Sound Long-Term Care Management

Sound Long-Term Care Management Ranks First Among ACOs

Sound Long-Term Care Management (SLTCM), part of Sound Physicians, has recently been recognized as the top-performing accountable care organization (ACO) among Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) organizations, particularly those focusing on long-term care and facility-based beneficiaries. This acknowledgment is due to their exceptional performance during the 2024 season, where SLTCM achieved impressive financial savings for Medicare totaling nearly $114 million. These numbers were reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

In just its second year of operation, SLTCM's results exhibit a strong commitment to enhancing patient care while simultaneously cutting costs. A few noteworthy statistics include a 7.6% decrease in emergency department visits, a remarkable 13.3% reduction in short-term hospitalizations, and a 13.8% decline in hospitalizations arising from emergency department visits. Such improvements reflect SLTCM's strategic focus on innovative care practices and operational efficiency.

The success of SLTCM stems from its dedication to three primary areas:

1. Data-Driven Support: Utilizing advanced analytics to identify patients needing timely interventions and establishing post-discharge follow-up protocols from acute care settings. This includes a thorough review of outlier performances and utilization rates.

2. Care Coordination at Scale: Dedicated quality improvement nurses bolster efforts to enhance care coordination, particularly during transitional phases of patient care. Through the use of telemedicine, healthcare professionals can provide necessary treatments directly to residents in their facilities, especially in scenarios deemed medically appropriate.

3. Provider Engagement: By aligning clinical workflows and objectives, implementing telemedicine solutions for widespread facility coverage, and distributing real-time performance data, SLTCM cultivates a culture of accountability and cooperation within its network's healthcare providers.

Such an organizational framework substantially enhances the quality of care provided to patients, leading to improved health outcomes. Each avoided hospital visit not only safeguards a patient's quality of life but also relieves significant pressure on both residents and their families.

Dr. Tom Kim, Chief Medical Officer at SLTCM, emphasized the organization's innovative approach to care by stating, "Because we focus exclusively on Medicare patients in long-term care settings, we are able to be innovative in our approach. Our clinician-led collaboration creates substantial improvements in outcomes and makes a genuine difference in the lives of our patients."

A pivotal element supporting these positive results is SLTCM's incorporation of telemedicine into its service offerings. By effectively collaborating with care facilities and leveraging data into actionable care pathways, SLTCM optimizes the resident experience, enhances support for clinical teams, and minimizes unnecessary hospital admissions or readmissions, particularly during off-hours and weekends.

In line with their dedication to share their practices, SLTCM is set to showcase its successful model at the upcoming Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association annual conference, scheduled for March 26-28 in Anaheim, California. Attendees are encouraged to visit Booth #203 to engage with Dr. Brian Carpenter, Chief Medical Officer for Telemedicine, and explore the comprehensive range of patient-centered services SLTCM provides.

For further details on their services, individuals can visit SLTCM's website. SLTCM stands as a leader in the ACO landscape, committed to Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care and assisted living settings, fostering a patient-centric approach to healthcare through innovative strategies and community collaboration.