John Muir Health's Cardiac Nursing team identified the need for the Tel-Assurance® computer system to help manage patients, and worked with the outpatient Case Managers to implement it.

How the Service Works:

Each morning, the patient calls a toll-free number and:

• Answers a brief survey about how he feels today
• Enters his morning weight (using a touch-tone phone to enter his answers)
• Listens to a message about self-care.
• The entire daily process usually takes about two minutes.

Tel-Assurance® then screens the patient's answers, and compares the weight to previous days in the last week. If the survey answers indicate a problem, or if the patient has gained too much weight (indicating possible fluid retention), an alert is sent to an outpatient Case Manager.

When the Case Manager receives the alert, she alerts the patient's principal physician (cardiologist or primary care physician). The Case Manager has a weight trend report available for the physician, and works with the physician and the patient to make sure that the proper follow-up is accomplished.

Proven Results:

The system has been implemented in more than 70 health care systems nationwide; John Muir Health will be the first implementation in Northern California. We are proud to report impressive results:

• Case Managers can monitor a larger patient population, by concentrating on the patients who need help.
• Re-admissions at 30, 60 and 90 days are reduced significantly.
• When patients are admitted, their length of stay is reduced (an average of over two days), because their problem is caught earlier
• Patients say that the system is easy to use and even report increased satisfaction with their physician, because of enrollment in the program.

Enhanced Quality of Care:

By integrating information flow across clinical boundaries, we expect to continue to improve our quality delivery of healthcare. We will be able to effectively address at-risk patients while maintaining control of all aspects of care.

Our patients can learn about, be screened for, and better track their disease on a daily basis. They will spend less time in the hospital and more time connecting with their physician. Patients will feel empowered, as they take these easy steps to monitor, and perhaps even improve their health.

If you have any further questions about John Muir's program, please email us.