3 steps to saving costs by shifting patients from hospital to home

Quality care exists in many different settings. Whether it’s inpatient or outpatient, the goal in treating patients with COPD is always the same: getting and keeping them healthy at home. By delivering quality care in the least expensive care setting—the home—your institution may see a significant savings in cost. While this concept seems simple, shifting patients from hospital to home often proves to be quite challenging and expensive if done incorrectly.

So how can you ensure your patient’s transition is seamless? And, what are the most effective ways to keep them from being readmitted?

Read on to discover our experts’ three critical steps to save costs by shifting your patients from hospital to home today.

Shifting patients from the hospital—the most expensive care setting—to their home takes a team effort. But, one team member plays a key role from the moment a patient is admitted: the respiratory therapist (RT).

In order to make your patient’s admission as short as possible, RTs need to practice at the top of their scope. This means:

• Identifying patient’s needs upon admission
• Providing extensive care management
  
• Anticipating obstacles that may occur in various care settings
• Partnering with the patient and family to clear challenges prior to discharge

Once RTs have pinpointed potential obstacles, they can educate the rest of the team on how to contribute to getting the patient home sooner. And, with the rest of the team contributing, you can begin to move onto step 2.