In the March 2014 edition of Partners in Health UpdateSM,
we introduced a new initiative to help physicians target
care for their IBC patients who had a likelihood of acute
hospitalization within the next six months, based on
conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Select
providers received a mailing in February 2014, as well as
in May 2014, with a list of their at-risk patients.
New pilot programs
We are pleased to introduce two new pilot programs
to further assist you in caring for your patients who are
at risk for acute hospitalization. These pilot programs
are available for select IBC members who qualify for
participation:
- Remote Monitoring Pilot Program. IBC is working
with Valued Relations Inc. (VRI), an independent
company, to provide 24-hour remote home monitoring
services to qualified commercial members with a
likelihood of acute hospitalization in the next six
months based on indicators of escalated clinical
situations. VRI utilizes wireless technology that will
apprise you of significant changes such as weight
gain for CHF patients and oxygen desaturation for
COPD patients. The goal of the program is to prevent
acute admission and reduce acute readmissions. The
program is expected to launch in 2014.
- Community Health Worker (CHW) Pilot Program.
IBC and the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater
Philadelphia, an independent company, are connecting
CHWs with the highest-risk members within a targeted
geographic location. The goal of the program is to
provide non-clinical services to help select members
with a variety of social and environmental challenges
that may affect their ability to access health care and
social resources. The CHW Program launched in early
July and will run for six months.
If you have any questions about these new pilot
programs, please contact your Network Coordinator.