HJBR May/Jun 2019

Healthcare Journal of baton rouge I  MAY / JUN 2019 19 “HealthLoop helps diabetic patients avoid repeat emergency room visits. ” —Cian Robinson, LGH Executive Director of Innovation, Research, and Real Estate Investments Cian Robinson “Health insurance premiums for our own employees have been stable for four or five years now. Taking the ability to freeze our premiums and lower the total cost of care is something that has value to other employ- ers and payers.” Providing the Most Attentive Care Ochsner’s Digital Medicine programoffers another effective way to empower patients to control chronic conditions. Patients mea- sure their hypertension using a wireless, at- home digital blood pressure cuff, and use their smart phones to automatically update a care teamwatching for concerning trends. When potential problems arise, pharmacists and health coaches call patients to help with needed adjustments and resources. According to Quirk, the life-saving pro- gram “decreases ER visits and increases medication adherence.”In one study, 71 per- cent of patients using the programwere able to control their blood pressure within 90 days, compared to 31 percent of patients fol- lowing a traditional caremodel. “We want to improve health, make the experience better for everybody, and reduce the cost of care,” she said. “We created a partnership with our patients. They know we’re looking out for them and we’re going to reach out to them if it looks like they need help.” Helping Patients Remain Healthy at Home As part of its strategy to improve pop- ulation health, Lafayette General Health (LGH) created a Healthcare Innovation Fund to bring new products and services to Louisiana patients. In 2017, LGH invested in HealthLoop, a digital platform that helps patients communicate with their providers before and after a visit via automated emails, text messages, app and portal notifications. Cian Robinson, LGH Executive Director of Innovation, Research, and Real Estate Investments, said HealthLoop helps dia- betic patients avoid repeat emergency room visits. It also significantly improves patient satisfaction scores. “It helps them under- stand their condition, while also keeping them out of a hospital. Helping them bet- ter manage their disease makes themmore satisfied consumers.” “What we discovered is that patients were wildly impressed that their doctor was fol- lowing upwith them,”said HealthLoop CEO Todd Johnson, adding that early detection helps patients receive needed care in the most cost effective and convenient way. One study found HealthLoop reduced cost of care for patients who were discharged after surgery by an average of $656 per person. Partnering with Health Plans Through their affiliated primary care group practices, several health systems have also collaborated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Blue Cross) to help patients control their hyperten- sion, diabetes, vascular disease, and kid- ney disease under the Quality Blue pro- grams. David Hochheiser, Blue Cross Senior Vice President for Provider Networks and “What we discovered is that patients were wildly impressed that their doctor was following up with them.” — Todd Johnson , CEOHealthLoop