As health care evolves from hospital-centric to patient-centric, the care continuum must also change from venue-based to seamless. The eighth plenary meeting featured a panel discussion of thought leaders in post acute care.  Each presenter discussed their strategies to create value-based relationships with hospitals, physicians, and payers and a care continuum that will meet the needs of elders while concurrently preparing for a future of accountable care.
Panelists represented a large nonprofit faith-based non-acute provider; the post acute division of a multi-billion dollar four-hospital system; and, a proprietary continuing care provider-each advancing their organization as a key player in tomorrow’s health care world:

• Peter Longo, Partner, Cantex Senior Communities, Carrollton, TX
• Carol Irvine, President and Chief Executive Officer, Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life, North Wales, PA
• Jeffery Lemon, President, Spectrum Health Continuing Care, Grand Rapids, MI

Peter Longo discussed Cantax Senior Communities and its services, citing beneficial reasons for partnering with the organization.  From transitional care to hospice, Longo illustrated the importance of low-cost and system-wide coverage to produce excellent outcomes; seamless transitions, lower re-hospitalization rates and better LOS management for hospital partners.

Furthermore, he illustrated the value of being cautious when choosing a hospital or health systems partner, stressing the importance of creating data-driven partnerships.  When telling your story, Longo explains, it is essential to use data to state your case.  Provide traditional metrics, such as State and Federal quality scores as well as quality indicators.  In an ACO/Bundled Environment, disclose re-hospitalization rates, cost control and functional outcome measures. A collaborative partnership starts with education and knowledge about an organization, it is essential that a collaborative relationships be built on data sharing to identify best practices, reduce complications and hospital readmissions, and decrease costs.

Carol Irvine followed Longo to discuss the future of senior care continuum as seen through the vision of the Abramson Center for Jewish Life.   Irvine’s strategy for change includes the transition to full continuum of senior service enabling them to serve a broader market, differential positioning as well as identifying a focused expertise. 

In preparation of the ACO Collaborative, Irvine discusses the critical components of accountable care, such as health homes, patient accessibility and service as well as new approaches to primary, specialty and hospital care to reward coordination, efficiency and productivity; Citing the future trends to accomplish building and sustaining these components when planning on the horizon.

Jeffrey Lemon, Spectrum Health, told us the “News we Need to Know.” First stating the good news being that “Hospitals have (re) discovered post acute care.”  Policymakers and health care providers recognize that coordination between acute care hospitals and post-acute providers is essential to improving the overall quality of care and reducing health spending.  This is great news…. Right?

Well, yes somewhat.  Lemon explains that the “bad” news is that although policymakers and providers understand the importance, hospitals may not realize the intricacies of what post-acute care providers offer and the investment of resources that goes into a successful coordination.  So how can post acute care strategize to achieve success?

From bending the cost curve to connecting quality to value, Lemon focuses on how to understand and capitalize on strengths, how to better use technology, build relationships, emphasizing the importance of focusing on patients and process.

Hospitals want and need different things from post acute care providers.  Focus on what they need, develop a plan and determine how to move forward so you can both achieve what it is you want.