Geisinger recognized by Medicare for improving healthcare to seniors

DANVILLE, PA. – In the second year of an innovative project organized by the federal agency that runs the Medicare system, Geisinger Health System received a quality score of 100 percent as a result of meeting all 27 benchmarks used to assess quality performance.
 
In addition, Geisinger significantly improved care for Medicare patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease at its three hospitals and 40 medical groups by enhancing coordination and efficiency. Working together, Geisinger’s more than 700 physicians developed and implemented programs that contributed to better care. Geisinger is the only participating physician group from Pennsylvania.
 
These results were announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, together with results from the nine other participating physician groups from across the nation. All 10 groups improved their quality scores on nationally developed evidence-based standards for diabetes, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease.
 
“These results show that there is enormous benefit in delivering care that is closely coordinated and monitored,” noted Mark Selna, MD, Associate Chief Innovation Officer, Geisinger Health System. “When healthcare providers take the right action at the right time, everyone wins.”
 
The PGP Medicare Demonstration project provided an opportunity to share in the savings resulting from more efficient and effective care delivery. As a result, the 10 participating physician groups saved Medicare $34  million the second performance year, from April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007 (and $55 million from 4/1/05 to 3/31/07).
 
In the second year of the pilot project, Geisinger further enhanced its advanced electronic health record (EHR) to allow providers to monitor and coordinate the care of patients with chronic disease.

The EHR tracks a patient’s status on a set of quality and clinical measures, and prompts the healthcare provider when certain tests or services are due. Data is automatically captured from inpatient and outpatient electronic sources or can be manually entered to allow real-time tracking of patient progress.

“The EHR is an invaluable tool in performance and quality improvement and is integral in helping us better coordinate care with all the health care team members and assist patients in achieving their goals.” said Frederick Bloom, MD, assistant chief quality officer, Geisinger Health System.

Patient engagement key to diabetes management –
Geisinger Medical Group patient John Rowlands says
he credits his success in managing diabetes to a total
lifestyle change. “I did what my doctors told me to do…
I changed my lifestyle.”
Click for high resolution photo

Patient successes highlight Geisinger’s new approach to diabetes care

WILKES-BARRE - Geisinger patient and Duryea native John Rowlands doesn’t like to back down from challenges. So when he received a diagnosis of diabetes two years ago, he knew he had to change his life.

Despite a family history of diabetes, Rowlands lived on high fat foods - his mealtime staple was pizza smothered with sausage, cheese and pepperoni. His favorite beverage? Sugar-laden iced tea. And exercise? He avoided it.

As Rowlands tells it, he went to his doctor, Andrea Wessel, complaining of constant fatigue. As soon as he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, his care team at Geisinger Medical Group –Moosic went into action. “They started me on medication to bring my blood sugar down and taught me about how I can manage my diabetes.”

Rowlands says he was motivated. He learned about the importance of eating three meals a day and following a balanced diet. He learned to monitor his blood sugar every day and keep his care team informed of the results. “They also convinced me to work exercise into my life,” he adds. 

Since receiving his diabetes diagnosis, the husband and father of three has lost 50 pounds and, as a result, was able to cut his medication dose by a third. 

“I did  what my doctors told me to do,” said Rowlands, 40. “I’ve changed my entire lifestyle.”

Rowlands is one of about 16 million Americans with diabetes, a complex disease that limits the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, hypertension and even depression.

Although diabetes can’t be cured, experts say people with the disease can live a long, healthy life. The key is for patients to control their blood sugar level, which happens through proper eating, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising. Medication is also an option. 

Because the disease is so difficult to manage, Geisinger recently developed a new approach to treating patients with diabetes.

The program relies on Geisinger’s electronic health record to remind patients about medical appointments and to provide physicians real-time status updates about their patients. The approach also involves diet improvements and allows for more patient-physician interaction. 

It’s helping patients like John Rowlands.

“I’ve received very good care from Geisinger,” Rowlands said. “I’m going to keep working hard at this so I can feel better and so I can one day stop taking my medications.”

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