Healthcare Coalition Approves Tools to Improve Patient Safety During Transitions...

Healthcare Coalition Approves Tools to Improve Patient Safety During
Transitions of Care

CHICAGO, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- National Transitions of Care Coalition
(NTOCC) Advisory Task Force today authorized the release of recently developed
tools for helping healthcare professionals and organizations address problems
inherent in transitioning patients from one level of care to another. The
tools represent the culmination of several months of collaboration between 29
industry stakeholders who joined together in 2006 to address challenges
associated with transitions of care. In addition, NTOCC is also releasing
accompanying information on how to implement and measure the tools as well as
material designed to raise industry, policy maker, media and the general
public's awareness of transitions of care. The material will be made available
on NTOCC's website (www.NTOCC.org) at the end of April. NTOCC is chaired and
coordinated by the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) in partnership
with sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC.
"The amount of work this group has accomplished in just 18 months is
impressive," Cheri Lattimer, NTOCC Project Director and CMSA Executive
Director said. "For a group this large, representing such various points of
view within healthcare, to come together and not only agree that transitions
of care is a serious problem but also design, develop and launch tools to
impact this issue is a fantastic accomplishment."
Included with the launch of the tools is a "Case Study Implementation and
Evaluation Plan" on how healthcare providers can implement them within their
clinical environments as well as a process for evaluating and measuring their
effectiveness. "Providers can use the tools and process to start making
changes in how transitions occur within their facilities," H. Edward Davidson,
PharmD, MPH and the representative of the American Society of Consultant
Pharmacists (ASCP) said. "The goal is that providers are empowered to take the
first step at measuring their own performances in transitions of care and
identify areas for improvement. These areas include such things as improving
how medication changes are reconciled when patients move from a nursing home
to a hospital, through the hospital, and through the discharge process." The
materials include an educational component about transitions of care, an
implementation case study and evaluation methodology.
The released tools address several important areas that impact effective
and safe transitions including:
-- Personal Patient "My Medicine List" Essential Data Elements: This is a
list of medications to be carried at all times by every patient. The
data elements indicate the prescriptions that patients have been
prescribed and are currently taking along with information about their
over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements.
The goal of the personal medicine list is to help patients improve
their understanding of their current medicine regimens and assist
healthcare providers in ensuring safe transference of medication
information.

-- Medication Reconciliation Essential Data Specifications: These
consensus elements will help healthcare professionals collect, transmit
and receive critical medication information needed when patients move
from one practice setting or level of care to another. The use of
these elements in the reconciliation process required by the Joint
Commission could help reduce medication errors.

-- Elements of Excellence Transitions of Care Checklist: This list
provides a detailed description of effective patient transfer between
practice settings. This process can help to ensure that patients and
their critical medical information are transferred safely, timely, and
efficiently.

In addition, NTOCC authorized the release of materials that will help the
industry, consumers, government officials and regulators better understand the
problems inherent in transitions of care and recommendations on how to create
better transitions. This material includes an awareness slide deck as well as
a detailed concept paper outlining steps to be considered by the healthcare
industry and policy makers to improve transition performance.
Transitions of care include situations in which a patient moves from
primary care to specialty physicians or moves within the hospital including
moves from the emergency department to other various departments, such as
surgery or intensive care; or when a patient is discharged from the hospital
and goes home or to an assisted living, skilled nursing facility, or hospice.
Patients, especially older persons, face significant challenges when moving
from one level of care or practice setting to another in the healthcare
system. During these transitions, lack of communication can result in
redundant or conflicting information that often creates serious issues for
patients, their caregivers and their families.
The NTOCC Advisory Board includes the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
(AMCP), American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA),
American Geriatrics Society (AGS), American Medical Directors Association
(AMDA), American Medical Group Association (AMGA), American Society of
Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), American Society on Aging (ASA), American
Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), AXA Assistance USA Inc., Case
Management Society of America (CMSA), Consumers Advancing Patient Safety
(CAPS), Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), Institute for Healthcare
Improvement (IHI), Joint Commission International Center for Patient Safety
(ICPS), Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care, Mid-America Coalition on
Health Care (MACHC), National Association of Directors of Nursing
Administration - Long Term Care (NADONA / LTC), National Association of Social
Workers (NASW), National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH), National Case
Management Network of Canada (NCMN), National Quality Forum (NQF), Predictive
Health, LLC, sanofi-aventis, U.S., LLC, Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM),
The Joint Commission Disease - Specific Care Certification, United Health
Group (UHG), URAC and the United States Department of Defense.
About the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC)
NTOCC was formed in 2006 to address a serious U.S. health care issue:
problematic situations which can occur when patients leave one care setting
and move to another care setting. The U.S. healthcare system often fails to
meet the needs of elderly patient populations during these transitions because
care is rushed and responsibility is fragmented with little communication
across care settings and multiple providers. These failures lead to undue
burdens on patients and their families and negatively impact patient safety,
quality of care and outcomes. The focus of NTOCC is to bring together thought
leaders and health care experts from various settings to address this critical
issue, define solutions and develop tools to address the gaps impacting
patient care. Tools and resources developed by NTOCC will be made available to
everyone in the health care industry including providers, payers, patients and
consumers. NTOCC is chaired and coordinated by the Case Management Society of
America in partnership with sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. For more information
visit www.ntocc.org.
About Case Management Society of America (CMSA)
Established in 1990, the Case Management Society of America is an
international non-profit 501(c)(6) multi-disciplinary professional association
dedicated to the support and advancement of the case management profession
through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy,
and establishing standards to advance the profession. It is based in Little
Rock, AR, and serves more than 20,000 members/subscribers and 70 affiliate and
pending chapters. Since its inception, CMSA has been at the forefront of
setting professional standards for the industry, which allows for the highest
level of efficiency and integrity, as well as developing national and local
leaders who are recognized for their practice and professional excellence. For
more information on CMSA, call CMSA at (501) 225-2229 or go to www.cmsa.org.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers,
develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of
everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York
(NYSE: SNY).
Contacts:

Case Management Society of America
Cheri Lattimer, (501) 225-2229 x 44

sanofi-aventis
Marc Greene, (212) 551-4780

SOURCE The National Transitions of Care Coalition

Cheri Lattimer of Case Management Society of America, +1-501-225-2229 x 44,
Marc Greene of sanofi-aventis, +1-212-551-4780