Mon Valley Hospital Receives $145,860 Grant to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

Updated on June 23, 2013

Yesterday, the Highmark Foundation announced a two-year $145,860 grant to Monongahela Valley Hospital to support the Assisting Care Transitions Program. The program will ensure safety, accuracy and completeness during transitions of care following discharge in order to decrease hospital readmissions and emergency room visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure patients.

On a national level, patients who are discharged from hospitals with a clear understanding of their after-care hospital instructions, including how to take medications, are 30 percent less likely to be readmitted or revisit the emergency room than patients who lack this information.

“The goal of the Highmark Foundation grant is to help Monongahela Valley Hospital improve patient outcomes, which will be achieved by implementing best practice recommendations for their patients,” said Highmark Foundation President Yvonne Cook.

Based on patient volume statistics, Monongahela Valley Hospital estimates that readmission reductions will result in annual savings of $170,000.

“The grant will allow a clinical pharmacist to visit with each patient and his or her caregivers prior to discharge,” said Monongahela Valley Hospital Senior Vice President Donna Ramusivich. “The clinical pharmacist will provide education related to prescribed medications and act as a bridge between attending physicians and their patients.”

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study shows a statistically significant reduction in preventable adverse drug events when clinical pharmacists are employed within a hospital setting. The same study revealed significant decreases in medication errors for geriatric patients at the time of discharge and lower instances where patients were readmitted.

About Mon Valley Hospital

Monongahela Valley Hospital (MVH) is a 210-bed, full-service health care facility with a 228-member medical staff representing more than 40 medical specialties. With more than 1,100 employees, MVH is the largest employer in the mid-Monongahela Valley and the third largest employer in Washington County. As such, the health care system plays a vital and viable role in strengthening the area’s economy by generating revenue into the community through the purchase of products and services.

About Highmark Foundation

The Highmark Foundation is a charitable organization, a private foundation and an affiliate of Highmark Inc. that supports initiatives and programs aimed at improving community health. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for individuals who reside in the communities where we do business. The Foundation strives to support evidence-based programs that impact multiple counties and work collaboratively to leverage additional funding to achieve replicable models. For more information, visit www.highmarkfoundation.org.

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