Virginia Mason Uses Cardinal Health Foundation Grant to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

For the “Heart to Heart” program, Virginia Mason has partnered with Kelley-Ross, a leading independent pharmacy in Seattle. Kelley-Ross pharmacists call and visit the homes of patients with moderate to severe heart failure once a month for three months after they are discharged from the hospital. The pharmacists explain medications and ensure individuals follow their medication schedules. Kelley-Ross pharmacists also make notes of these conversations and home visits in the Virginia Mason electronic medical record, which is viewed by the patients’ cardiologists and other care team members.

Home visits by Kelley-Ross pharmacists are in addition to the patients’ follow-up calls from, and office visits with, providers at the Virginia Mason Heart Failure Clinic.

“This project draws on best practices in medication management and helps support our patients during the critical transition phase from the hospital to their home,” said Anne Casey, director, Virginia Mason Heart Institute.

During its pilot year the program will support 50 heart failure patients taking five or more chronic-condition medications and will strive to reduce hospital readmissions among these patients by half. The current readmission rate for heart failure patients is 22 percent at Virginia Mason, compared to the national average of about 24 percent. If successful, the goal is to integrate the Heart to Heart program into the medical center's standard post-discharge care for heart failure patients.

Heart failure, which cannot be cured but can be managed with proper medications and medical supervision, is a leading cause of hospitalization in the U.S. among individuals age 65 and older.

Virginia Mason is among provider organizations in 18 states to receive funding from the Cardinal Health E3 Grant Program this year. In 2013, Virginia Mason received a Cardinal Health Foundation grant to support patient safety initiatives in the operating rooms.

“On behalf of Cardinal Health, we are so pleased to continue offering grants to organizations such as Virginia Mason as they work to implement best practices and improve the effectiveness, excellence and efficiency of patient care,” said Dianne Radigan, vice president, community relations, Cardinal Health. “The result is medical excellence and the best patient outcomes at a more affordable price.”