Benefit of a Stroke Management Program

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Stroke Care
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Hospital participation in stroke bundle programs involves financial risk.
• Limited comparative data exists on the success of these programs.
• Effective stroke management programs are crucial for optimizing patient care and hospital finances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the success of a stroke management program.
• To evaluate reductions in skilled nursing facility (SNF) admissions and length of stay.
• To determine the impact on inpatient rehabilitation unit discharges and 90-day hospital readmission rates.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year implementation period (October 1, 2015 - September 30, 2018) involving 803 stroke patients.
• Key metrics included reduction in SNF admissions, SNF length of stay, and 90-day hospital readmissions.
• Utilized a stroke nurse navigator interacting with a preferred network of facilities and community partners.

Main Results:

• A 0.5% reduction in stroke patients admitted to SNFs, with a focus on home care.
• A 1.65-day average reduction in SNF length of stay.
• A 2.2% decrease in discharges to inpatient rehabilitation units and a 4% decrease in 90-day stroke readmission rates.
• Demonstrated a return on investment exceeding 400%.

Conclusions:

• The implemented stroke management program successfully improved patient outcomes.
• The program led to significant financial gains for the hospital.
• Utilizing a stroke nurse navigator is effective in reducing SNF utilization and readmissions.