A rapidly growing care provider has launched a new orthopedic recovery program designed to align with two distinct federal policy initiatives: one to address social inequities that may slow patient recovery, and the other to streamline care to reduce overall health care costs.
Marquis Health Consulting Services’ OrthoWIN, launched this week, provides more specific and targeted care plans for patients who do not receive adequate support at home immediately after discharge from the hospital.
In recent years, more patients nationwide have been referred to home care following joint and orthopedic surgery. But national data on social determinants of health—and anecdotal evidence—are currently being collected that show that some patients still require professional care, for example because they cannot receive therapy at home due to lack of space or because transportation issues limit their access to aftercare.
OrthoWIN is currently deployed in 23 facilities across Marquis’ Mid-Atlantic service area and is also aimed at acute care partners looking to reduce their spending on episodes of care related to joint replacement or fracture care and potentially reduce rehospitalizations.
“Many of our hospital partners across the country are participating in bundled payment programs and other forms of innovation,” said Jennifer Hertzog, vice president of marketing and business development for the Mid-Atlantic region at Marquis McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on Thursday. “This program is 100% compliant with the goals for innovation and cost savings. The goal is to deliver the highest quality of care in the shortest time possible and prepare the patient for the next optimal step in their continuum.”
Pain, therapy addressed
OrthoWIN uses an integrated treatment plan that includes pain management and physical therapy. Coordination between the patient’s surgeon and care team begins immediately, and Hertzog said the goal is a “friendly handoff” from the surgeon to rehabilitation providers.
The program is led by a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialist supported by an interdisciplinary care team. The PM&R plan is a guided document that guides therapy up to seven days per week and provides a holistic approach to managing comorbidities such as heart and lung disease, chronic kidney disease and memory care.
Patients who do not have adequate support at home are identified by case managers and care navigators in the hospital. This helps the OrthoWIN team prepare for a person’s specific needs.
Tricia Heller, director of special programs, said McKnights that the program will allow care teams to conduct virtual tours of patients’ homes to determine what barriers to success might exist once they leave the subacute rehabilitation facility. Providers will consider whether a patient can or will drive, as well as other social determinants of health.
“We have physician-led programs,” Heller said, adding that care plans are developed to maximize the time patients are expected to spend in a facility. “We want to minimize the need for them to return for outpatient appointments and make the time with us more useful.”
