Page 9 - SFHN0617finalSP.qxp_SFHN 0608 Friday 5.0

HeartWell LLP Becomes Shortage in the Healthcare

Preferred Cardiac Care Provider Workforce and Health Outcomes

for Orange Accountable The American healthcare tances are all expected
workforce has faced ongo- to rise. The Association
Care of South Florida ing shortages. Individuals of American Medical
and families face longer Colleges (AAMC) pre-
wait times, greater difficul- dicts that a shortage of
BY VANESSA ORR will benefit from having ty accessing providers, physicians in the U.S. is
an added layer of trans- shortened time with going to grow.
Since 2008, HeartWell parency among their pri- providers, some frustration Solving the impact of
LLP, a 23-physician cardiol- mary-care physicians, car- with care delivery, and the shortage of physi-
ogy practice in South diac specialists, and ACO increased ED visits and cians in primary care on
Miami-Dade County, has care coordinators to make hospital readmissions. health outcomes, will
been providing its patients certain that there are not The nursing shortage has require a wide-ranging
with high-quality care. And any gaps in care. been an ongoing concern. approach; including the
while its patients certainly “Working with Orange A number of factors have BY JUDITH SCOTT , RN, increased use of tech-
appreciate the personal will enable us to continue been cited to influence the MSN, BBA nology and more effi-
attention and positive out- ensuring that our patients shortage; such as lack of cient teamwork among
comes, the practice’s are receiving the best pos- job satisfaction; stress, health professionals.
patient-centered focus also Jeffrey Kaplan sible care,” said Kaplan. turnover, increase in the number of baby Care coordination provides a great
caught the attention of “We choose to work boomers and their healthcare needs, framework for the integrated team based
Orange Accountable Care of with practices that put insufficient number of faculty and nurs- approach. The Agency of Healthcare
South Florida. the patient in the center es entering the profession. Although Research and Quality promotes care
In April, HeartWell was of care, which is why there are many proposed solutions, reli- coordination as a key strategy that has
selected as a preferred we’re thrilled that able data and trends point to an unen- the potential to improve the effective-
provider for cardiac care by HeartWell – which is durable shortage. An inadequate nursing ness, safety, and efficiency of the health
the Accountable Care made up of extremely force has negative impact on patient out- care system; improving outcomes for
Organization (ACO), which well-regarded cardiolo- comes. With decrease in length of hospi- everyone: patients, providers, and pay-
was founded in 2014 and gists – has become one of tal stay and more acute care in the ambu- ers. A clinical care coordinator can assist
has grown from 70 our preferred providers,” latory and home settings, there is patients who are unclear about what to
providers to more than 500 said Orange’s founder, increased need for experienced, highly do in a post acute care setting; with med-
participating physicians. president and CEO, skilled nurses. ication reconciliation, reconnecting
The ACO is known for its Lissette Exposito, RN, Nurses aren’t the only medical profes- them with a primary care physician who
focus on high-quality, cost- BSN, MHSA. sionals facing concerns of a shortage. has more of a comprehensive profile, and
effective outcomes and Lissette Exposito HeartWell has already There are reports of a shrinking supply ameliorating situations that could esca-
patient-centered care. seen the positive synergy of physicians; particularly primary care late into a hospital readmission or poorer
Through this relationship, more than that can result when medical profession- physicians. Population growth and the health outcomes. Effective communica-
5,000 patients are expected to benefit als band together. The practice was orig- aging population is driving the impend- tion among providers reduces costs and
from extended access to services includ- inally created by the merger of six com- ing physician shortage as well as trends ensures better outcomes for everyone.
ing clinical, vascular, interventional and peting cardiology practices in the Miami- in medical school enrollment and spe- Investing in care coordination resources
electrophysiology at Baptist Hospital, Dade area who realized that they could cialization. The aging patient population is investing in better outcomes.
West Kendall Baptist Hospital, South all benefit by taking a team approach to requires more medical services than the
Miami Hospital and Homestead Hospital. patient care, working with hospitals and general population and their disease Healthcare Navigation Systems provides
“We’re very pleased to be working with managed care while still maintaining a management may end up in an emer- care coordination support and services. For
Orange Accountable Care of South focus on quality. gency department. The shortages affects more information call (561) 444-9011 or
Florida, which last year was named one “Having HeartWell as part of our grow- health care on many levels; particularly visit www.healthnavisystems.com. Judith
of the top 10 highest-saving ACOs in the ing network of preferred providers is health care access, quality and cost. Scott, RN, MSN, BBA, is Senior Consultant
nation out of 393 ACOs, with one of the great for the community,” said Exposito, Increased use of emergency rooms, at Healthcare Navigation Systems.
highest quality scores,” said HeartWell adding that the tri-county ACO has the delayed treatment and greater travel dis-
COO Jeffrey Kaplan. “There are a lot of highest patient population in South
benefits to the premier cardiac care Miami-Dade County. “They are a great
group in the Miami market joining forces driver for us to maintain our focus on
with the premier ACO in the region.” quality versus volume.”
Referring physicians know that
Orange ACO-selected specialists have To learn more about HeartWell, LLP, visit Visit us on the web at
proven track records for improving the www.heartwell.com. To learn more about
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com
health of their patients, which gives Orange Accountable Care of South Florida, www.southfloridahospitalnews.com
them the confidence that they are help- visit www.orangecaregroup.com.
ing to promote better outcomes. Patients

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com June 2017 9