Increasing Scalability and Quality of Care Transitions with Technology

Heather Chung, RN, MSN, PHD, NE-BC – Director, Behavioral Health Transition of Care Program, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Shara Cohen, SVP of Client Experience, Emmi Solutions. Within the first three weeks of a care transition, 20% of patients experience an adverse event and, with increased pressure to improve quality and reduce readmissions, healthcare organizations need effective ways of identifying patient status, encouraging self-management and intervening when patients are at-risk. The Behavioral Health Transition of Care Program at Houston Methodist Hospital utilizes a wealth of technology, including risk assessment, electronic data capture and patient engagement tools, to not only reach its population, but better understand the status of their recovery. This presentation discusses the role and value of these technologies in improving the coordination and quality of care transitions.