Curaspan Hospital Customers Cut Readmission Rate to Below National Average and Saved Almost $260 Million in 2010

NEWTON, Mass., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospitals using the Web-based eDischarge™ software-as-a-service (SaaS) application have significantly cut readmissions overall for the second year in a row and in 2010 saved on average about $1.5 million each, according to Curaspan Health Group, the industry leader in building secure electronic patient-transition networks for hospitals, post-acute providers and suppliers to optimize patient care.

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"This illustrates the power of data," said Thomas R. Ferry, president and CEO of Curaspan. "The business intelligence that we deliver to our customers with the automatic capture and display of data empowers and enables them to achieve better clinical outcomes and financial results. It also helps them avoid Medicare payment penalties that begin next year for higher-than-expected readmission rates."

A review of aggregated 2010 data for 168 Curaspan hospital customers with 150 beds or more reveals a 14% readmission rate overall versus approximately 20% nationwide. Customers access on-demand data via eDischarge as well as a portfolio of 30 standard weekly and monthly reports that includes four readmissions-related reports.

The readmissions reports available in the Curaspan Clinical Data Bank enable hospitals to easily track readmissions by diagnosis, physician, placement and provider. By regularly reviewing readmissions data, hospital staff is well-equipped to respond to troubling trends by identifying the root cause.

"The detailed readmissions reports provide important insights that contribute to better outcomes," said Kathryn Bennett, RN, director of case management at Indiana University Health Bloomington. "Data about readmission rates by post-acute provider, for example, help us manage and improve these important relationships."

The 2010 drop in readmissions experienced by Curaspan hospital customers translates into approximately $127,500 savings per month or $1.53 million annually per hospital, based on an average of 17 fewer readmissions each month at a case rate of $7,500.

The 2010 numbers were an improvement from the previous year. In 2009, a hospital, on average, saved approximately $108,000 per month or $1.3 million annually based on 15 fewer readmissions each month. In the aggregate, the 168 hospitals whose blinded data was reviewed saved $257 million in 2010 versus $180 million in 2009. For the two years included in the Curaspan Clinical Data Bank review, hospitals overall cut preventable readmissions and saved $437 million.

"Think about the impact the smart use of data could have on health care nationwide," added Ferry. "If the other 2,000 similarly sized U.S. hospitals followed the same practice of regularly reviewing and responding to readmissions data, there would be a potential savings of about $3 billion a year."

Founded by Ferry, Curaspan is an 11-year old company that has helped set the standard for the secure transmission of clinical data about patients moving from one level of care to another. Curaspan works with more than 3,000 of the nation's top hospitals, health systems and post-acute care providers in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Among them are Johns Hopkins Health System, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Saint Thomas Health Services (part of Ascension Health), Riverside Health System, Vanguard Health Systems, Apria Healthcare, American Medical Response, Gentiva Health Services, Golden LivingCenters, Life Care Centers of America and SunBridge Healthcare.

About Curaspan Health Group

Curaspan Health Group builds secure electronic patient-transition networks for hospitals, post-acute providers and suppliers to optimize patient care. Curaspan software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications empower users with real-time, predictive decision-making data that enables all participants to continuously monitor care, improve communication and ensure compliance. This informatics exchange is integrated with the proprietary Curaspan Provider Data Bank, the industry's most comprehensive and up-to-date system of actionable patient-transition intelligence, and is complemented by the clinical process expertise of credentialed advisors. The Health Care Advisory Board and KLAS repeatedly have recognized Curaspan for its industry-leading software. Curaspan is headquartered in Newton, Mass. For more information please visit Curaspan.com, or tell us how to contact you.

SOURCE Curaspan Health Group