Advocate Points to Reduced Readmissions as Result of ACO

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care is reporting reduced readmission rates as a result of its accountable care organization, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.

Advocate launched its ACO, called AdvocateCare, last year with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. The ACO includes 10 hospitals and covers roughly 380,000 patients.

Year-one data from the ACO shows a 26 percent decrease in readmission rates for AdvocateCare patients with chronic illnesses, due in part to patients' access to a transition coach. The 13.6 percent readmission rate for AdvocateCare patients who had been sent to nursing facilities is still lower than the national average of 20 percent.

The transition coach follows up on patients' care after they are discharged from the hospital. The ACO also uses care managers to help patients avoid hospitalization by reminding them about medications and emphasizing preventive care.

More Articles on AdvocateCare:

80 Accountable Care Organizations to Know
5 New ACOs Announced This Year; What Does the Future Hold for Accountable Care?
Advocate's ACO Stirs Enthusiasm Among Patients, Providers and Experts


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