Initiatives Designed to Prevent Readmissions

A recent article in the L.A. Times describes an initiative launched at Cedars-Sinai, the 'frailty project,' in which a medical team works to help at-risk elderly avoid lengthy hospital stays or readmission.

Under this initiative, patients receive a holistic approach to care, focusing not just on the disease that brought them to the hospital, but also on all aspects of their health.  The project launched with a pilot in 2011 and it was expanded last year.

Cedars is now working with INQRI director Mary Naylor and her team at the University of Pennsylvania to develop a program for patients once they are discharged from the hospital.

Programs like Naylor's transitional care model and the frailty project are excellent examples of the types of initiatives needed to address the growing problem of hospital readmissions, as discussed at last week's Care About Your Care event.

New Generation of Nurses Brings Holistic Approach To Care For Aging Population

This past Saturday, Christina Hennessy, of the Connecticut Post, detailed new, holistic approaches nursing graduates are utilizing when caring for the growing elderly population in the United States. The article, which is focused primarily on the current and future trends of gerontological care, highlighted the importance of the social, financial, psychological and physical aspects of care. This is in contrast to previous models of care that focused only on the treatment of a specific illness or disease.

To access the full article, click here.