Interactive Post-Discharge Multimedia Program Implemented
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
The new system aims to reduce re-admissions and improve patient outcomes.
UAB Medicine has announced a new initiative to support communication between doctors and patients. In collaboration with Emmi Solutions, UAB Medicine has deployed interactive post-discharge phone calls and corresponding multimedia programs that encourage patients’ additional learning about their health condition to improve care transitions and reduce readmission rates.
According to UAB Hospital Chief Quality Officer Benjamin Taylor, M.D., MPH, transitioning from hospital to home is an important step during recovery, and proper monitoring paired with self-management is essential.
“We are focused on extending communication beyond the four walls of the hospital, to not only share valuable instructions but also monitor patient care,” Taylor said. “Being a part of our patients’ path to wellness doesn’t end when they leave our hospital.”
The personalized, automated phone calls will be used to deliver and reinforce necessary instructions, as well as collect data on patients’ status to ensure recovery is progressing. The calls and programs can be extended to other individuals whom the patient requests.
The program uses simple language and compelling multimedia visuals accessible via computer or mobile device to decipher complex medical information, and the programs and campaigns help foster patient compliance and follow-through, as and improve the effectiveness of care conversations.
“As a national leader in patient experience, UAB recognizes that proactive outreach is a pillar of providing the highest-quality care,” said Devin Gross, CEO of Emmi Solutions, a leader in outcomes-driven patient engagement that collaborated with UAB on the initiative. “Beyond delivering recovery instructions, our call campaigns track patient feedback and facilitate targeted outreach, enabling UAB’s care staff to utilize their resources efficiently, reaching out to patients at risk for readmission who require intervention the most.”
UAB Medicine comprises the School of Medicine and the $3 billion UAB Health System that includes 2,300 licensed beds in six hospitals, one of which is UAB Hospital — the third-largest public hospital in the United States, winner of the Women’s Choice award, and one of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals.