Family care program helps cut readmissions after cardiac surgery

Editor's Note

Intermountain Healthcare’s (Salt Lake City, Utah) Partners in Healing program, which involves family members in in-patient care, helped reduce 30-day readmissions after cardiac surgery by 65%, the February 13 Healthcare Finance reports.

The program enables family members to help with basic care, which in turn prepares them for taking over care responsibilities when the patient goes home. The program also allows the patient and family members more control over when they perform the care, rather than following a nurse’s schedule.

In a survey, 92% of patients said the program enhanced their transition from hospital to home.

A voluntary program at Intermountain Healthcare that allows family members of hospitalized patients to participate in their care has been proven to both enhance healing and reduce readmission rates. Intermountain's Partners in Healing program enables family members to help with basic care for their loved ones, which in turn prepares the family for taking over care responsibilities when the patient goes home.

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