Connect Care Project, Bridging the Gap Between Acute and Post-Acute Care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare management
• Hospital operations
• Ambulatory care

Background:

• US hospitals face significant access and capacity challenges.
• Optimizing resources and patient flow is crucial for healthcare systems.
• Improving access to timely outpatient care is a key strategic goal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a clinic-based ambulatory service as an alternative to traditional hospital observation.
• To assess the effectiveness of the Connect Care Project (CCP) in managing patients previously admitted under observation.
• To analyze changes in hospital observation admissions, particularly for chest pain, following CCP implementation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical admissions at SUNY Upstate University Hospital (March 2020-April 2023).
• Analysis of patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) before and after CCP implementation (November 2021).
• Comparison of observation admissions 13 months prior and post-CCP, with specific focus on chest pain cases.

Main Results:

• The Connect Care Project (CCP) led to a significant decrease in hospital observation admissions.
• Observation admissions for chest pain, a common reason for observation, notably declined post-CCP.
• The CCP model demonstrated a positive impact on hospital capacity and patient flow.

Conclusions:

• The CCP model offers an effective alternative to hospital observation, improving efficiency.
• This innovative approach streamlines patient management and enhances healthcare access.
• The CCP model is adaptable and shows potential for wider implementation in healthcare settings.