Day Kimball Hospital Recognized for Lowest Readmission Rates in Connecticut

“Transitions of Care” team instrumental in achieving improved ratings.

The Day Kimball Healthcare Transitions of Care Team Back Row, L-R: Jen LeDuc, Day Kimball Homecare; Kathy Demers, DKMG Geriatric Care Management; Lynn Yellen, Colonial Health; Curtis Rodowicz, Colonial Health; Kate Mackenzie, DKH Behavioral Health; Angela Levesque, DKH Medical Records Middle Row, L-R: Lucy Wanich, DKH Hospital Case Management; Karen Hurst, Villa Maria; Dan James, Masonicare; Chris Firlik, Colonial Health; Lynn Kennedy, Westview; Sara Kut, DKH Hospital Case Management; Cassie Roto, DKMG Care Coordination Front Row, L-R: Sharon Sawyer, DKH Quality & Risk Management; Dr. Richard Wilcon, DKMG Hospitalist, John O’Keefe, DKH Hospital Patient Care Services; Mary Ann Pezanko, DKH Hospital Infection Prevention Not pictured: Anne Collelo, PierceCare; Betty Francisco, Regency Heights; Dr. Lisa Canter, Northeast Connecticut Cardiology Associates; Charisse Abate, Masonicare; Christiana Dennis-Fallek, Matulaitis Nursing Home; David T. Panteleakos, Westview Health Care Center; Diana O'Brien, Interim Healthcare; Dr. Jeffrey Howe; Kim Durand, DKH Chronic Care Program; Elizabeth Favreau, DKH Intensive Care Unit; Dr. John Graham, DKH VP for medical affairs and quality/chief medical officer; Judith Hansen, DKH HomeCare; Kim Lee, Regency Heights; Dr. Ronald Klare, Day Kimball Medical Group; Laura Kroll; Laurie DesLauriers, PeirceCare; Lisa Coe, Villa Maria; Mary Smutnick, Masonicare; Ralph Miro, DKH Emergency Department; Pat King, Matulaitis Nursing Home; Rebecca Powell, DKH Quality Improvement; Tami Reilly, Regency Heights; Tom Gaccione, Piercecare; Dr. Steven Wexler, DKH Emergency Department

PUTNAM, CONN. – Day Kimball Hospital, part of the Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) integrated system, has learned that it has the lowest hospital-wide, 30-day readmission rate in Connecticut, and is actually lower than state success benchmarks in six out of seven readmission measures, today announced John Graham, MD, DKH vice president for medical affairs and quality/chief medical officer.

“One of the outcomes of the 2010 Affordable Care Act was the establishment of the readmissions reduction program, focused on improving care transitions from the hospital to other providers with a goal of reducing ‘preventable complications’ that lead to readmission to the hospital,” explained Dr. Graham. “We took this challenge very seriously, evidenced by formalizing a ‘Transitions of Care Team’ to aggressively manage our patients’ continuum of care…and these results indicate that our efforts have been successful.”

The DKH Transitions of Care Team, formed in April of 2011, is a community collaborative that connects skilled nursing homes, emergency departments, inpatient/hospitalists, home care, social workers and case managers.

“The team meets monthly to review cases, evaluate processes and policies, and enhance patient care through transitions from one care provider to another, “ said Sharon Sawyer, DKH director of quality & risk management, who leads the Transition of Care Team. “Working together, we assure that our patients receive the right care at the right time, which results in a level of recovery that allows care to continue at home or in an assisted living environment.”

The 30-day admissions rates are calculated in these seven categories:
1.Hospital wide
2.Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)
3.Heart failure
4.Pneumonia
5.Chronic obstructive pulmonary (a type of obstructive lung disease, such as emphysema)
6.Hip/knee replacement
7.Stroke

According to data analyzed by Qualidigm, a national healthcare consulting and research company, Day Kimball Hospital had the lowest readmission rates among all Connecticut hospitals and had lower readmission rates than the stated benchmarks in each of the evaluation categories, except stroke. To recognize the collaborative efforts of the Transition of Care Team, Qualidigm presented the committee with the “Putnam Community of Care” certificate for successful participation in quality initiatives to reduce hospital readmission. For more information, please visit www.daykimball.org/readmission.

Improving care transmissions is part of a national initiative called “Partnership for Patients,” which is administered by the federal government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Locally, the Connecticut Hospital Association supports this effort and its member organizations by collaborating with Qualidigm to create the “Care Transitions Initiative,” which provides support services to Connecticut hospitals to help decrease preventable hospital readmissions and to address preventable hospitalizations. Qualidigm has been the designated “Medicare Quality Improvement Organization” for the State of Connecticut for thirty years and is also a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) as designated by the State of Connecticut.

“This is how integrated health care is supposed to work,” concluded Dr. Graham. “When physicians and providers work together to coordinate patient care, the result is improved health and a more efficient system.”