The Readmission Care Partner sprint, provided by the Eastern U.S. Quality Improvement Collaborative (HANYS Hospital Quality Improvement Contractor), allows hospitals to engage in an improvement project focused on the development or enhancement of their care partner programs. This comprehensive clinical delivery program supports hospitals and systems in operationalizing patient-centered care and the engagement of the patient and care partners throughout the hospital stay and beyond. Literature is increasingly demonstrating that fully functional care partner programs have a positive impact on reducing readmissions and increasing Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System (HCAHP) scores.
The care partner approach includes best practices and evidence that give hospital staff the structure, parameters and tools to facilitate successful patient-centered care throughout the hospital course and discharge transition.
The intended audience includes chief medical officers, chief nursing officers, patient experience officers, care or case management team members and social workers. Nursing staff, hospitalists and care transitions team members are also encouraged to participate.
This training was developed with Amy Boutwell, MD, MPP, president of Collaborative Healthcare Strategies, community-based organizations, and Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs). More than 400 individuals have participated in the sprint work as of June 2022.