Palestine Regional Medical Center, in Palestine, Texas, recently introduced a mobile integrated healthcare program that can help chronically ill patients who are at high risk for readmission to better manage their conditions and avoid a return trip to the hospital.Eligible patients identified by the hospital's case management team will be visited by EMS paramedics weekly for the first 30 days after they are discharged from the hospital. EMS staff will help patients monitor their blood pressure, weight and medications and educate them on how to better manage their symptoms and when to seek help. The information gleaned from these visits will be sent to the patients' primary care providers so that they may monitor their patients' progress.
The program is currently working with patients who have congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. For more information, click here.
