BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Seniorlink, Inc., a leading provider of care collaboration solutions, announced the results of a study that found that patients experiencing complex conditions had significantly lower rates of inpatient hospitalizations, emergency room visits and fall incidences, resulting in significant healthcare cost savings when technology-enabled professional care managers are able to support engaged family caregivers.
Seniorlink, in collaboration with Anne Tumlinson, a health and aging services expert and founder of the research and advisory services firm Anne Tumlinson Innovations, LLC, analyzed the data of almost 2,000 Seniorlink patients in Massachusetts and Indiana and compared it to the national benchmark Medicare Current Beneficiaries Survey (MCBS). The study revealed that Seniorlink patients had reduced healthcare utilization and needs when supported by technology-enabled care managers and family caregivers. In fact, Seniorlink patients used significantly less inpatient hospital and ER services than a similarly complex population of Medicare beneficiaries, which if applied to the benchmark population would result in annual cost savings of $2.8 million for every 1,000 complex patients.
Seniorlink's patients benefitted from collaboration among caregivers and their care managers. They experienced fewer adverse events, and achieved better outcomes, than comparable Medicare beneficiaries who did not have access to Seniorlink's intensive in-home care management model. When compared with the MCBS data, results showed:
"Family caregivers who are supported by world-class clinicians, targeted clinical protocols and intuitive technology see a measurable difference in their family members' medical outcomes and healthcare costs, which translates into a better quality of life," said Seniorlink Chief Executive Officer Thomas Riley. "This study proves how Seniorlink has saved government and managed care payers millions of dollars over almost two decades by focusing on the collaboration between care managers and family caregivers for some of the most complex patients in our community."
Seniorlink offers a unique set of care collaboration solutions that balance human touch and technology. The company's intensive in-home care management model provides direct support to family caregivers caring for patients with complex or chronic diseases by technology-enabled clinicians. Recently, Seniorlink announced the creation of Vela, the company's newest care collaboration technology to integrate family caregivers and care providers in the care management of complex patients. This HIPAA-secure platform connects care providers, including nurse case managers, patient advocates and pharmacists, directly with patients and family caregivers, resulting in high-quality care delivered efficiently at scale.
"I believe that the research results show the potential for healthcare savings when the family caregivers – the frontline of care delivery for the most complex patients – receive direct clinical support, skills and information they need to identify triggers for hospitalizations and proactively address issues before they reach the critical point of requiring healthcare interventions," said Tumlinson. "Caregivers and their family members benefit when they can communicate with care teams on a daily basis. They aren't trying to do everything alone, and get the support they need to manage a variety of complicated situations effectively and efficiently."
Jay V. Patel, Seniorlink's Clinical Transformation Officer, will be presenting the study at the 2017 Connected Health Conference on October 25-27 in Boston at Poster Session #8705, "Engaging Family Caregivers Translates to Better Health Outcomes and Lower Costs."
More information about Seniorlink can be found at www.seniorlink.com.
About Seniorlink
Seniorlink is a leading provider of care collaboration solutions. The company serves patients and caregivers by partnering with risk-bearing provider and payer organizations to augment existing care management capabilities through solutions that leverage human touch and technology. Seniorlink's team of compassionate, experienced professionals uses a proprietary platform, Vela, to encourage real-time collaboration among the extended care team that results in better outcomes at a lower cost. Backed by nearly two decades of care expertise, Seniorlink leads the way on delivering high quality care. Seniorlink's Caregiver Homes Network is the first Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) provider in the U.S. to receive NCQA Case Management Accreditation with Long Term Services and Support Distinction. More information about Seniorlink can be found at www.seniorlink.com.
About Anne Tumlinson Innovations, LLC
Anne Tumlinson Innovations LLC (ATI) is a Washington DC-based advisory services firm dedicated to transforming the delivery of healthcare and aging services to this nation's highest-need older adults and their families. Through research, analytics, and strategic advice, ATI supports organizations in embracing risk, integrating care, and engaging and supporting consumers and their families. More information about ATI, and the work it does can be found at www.annetumlinsoninnovations.com
SOURCE Seniorlink, Inc.