Former Board Member and Stoneleigh Fellow David Rubin is the lead author on a new study which finds that integrating technology solutions with interdisciplinary care teams can create better patient experiences and health outcomes for Medicaid-enrolled children.
In the largest-ever study to measure the impact of population health strategies and tools on hospital outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children, a team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found targeted interventions can deliver better patient experience, improved health outcomes and value to the Medicaid system. The study, published in JAMA Network Open today, showed that among more than 93,000 Medicaid-enrolled children, combining technology solutions with interdisciplinary integrated care teams led to 50 fewer hospital admissions each month and 3,600 fewer bed days for these youth in a year.
The CHOP intervention, implemented over two years, sought to identify high-risk, Medicaid-enrolled children with special health care needs and provide solutions that would keep them out of the hospital or reduce their stays if they were admitted. A set of reporting tools in patients’ electronic medical record notified clinicians and staff if their patients visited the emergency department or were admitted into the hospital. Then, an integrated care team would connect with these families to help them schedule and prepare for follow-up appointments, assist with locating needed services and answer questions they had about their care. These clinical teams also utilized technological tools to improve coordination and communication between them.
