Medical Services of America, Bayou Home Care Reduce Rehospitalization Rates, Prepare for PDGM with Powerful Predictive Analytics Technology for Home Health

Business Wire

Agencies leverage WellSky^® Home Health CareInsights solution to deliver measurably better patient outcomes and simplify regulatory compliance

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- When Jenna Barletta, RN — nursing administrator for Medical Services of America (MSA) in North Carolina — reviewed one of her new home health patient’s charts, her technology immediately alerted her that the patient was at a high risk for rehospitalization. Barletta’s analytics software delivered her data-driven insights, based on an extensive database of key risk factors, indicating that the patient was suitable for hospice care. With this data in hand, Barletta was able to coordinate with MSA’s hospice team. Together, they safely transitioned the patient into hospice care within 24 hours of the initial request for home healthcare.

Harnessing data analytics from WellSky^® Home Health CareInsights technology, Barletta and the MSA team helped prevent this patient’s rehospitalization, which is a potentially adverse event for post-acute care patients. MSA is a comprehensive home healthcare provider offering a wide range of services, including home health, hospice, home medical equipment, and more. In their first three months of using WellSky’s CareInsights technology, MSA reduced their rehospitalization rates by 33 percent at their Roanoke, Virginia location and by 16 percent at their Elizabeth City, North Carolina location.

“Having all the data in our CareInsights software has been really helpful,” Barletta said. “Because I’m able to easily see when a patient’s hospitalization risk correlates with their hospice suitability, my home health team can have earlier conversations with our hospice team to help patients stay out of the hospital.”

Across the U.S., home health agencies of all sizes are using WellSky’s CareInsights technology to power better outcomes and significantly decrease rehospitalizations. Bayou Home Care, a full-service home healthcare company with five locations in the bayou region, is another WellSky CareInsights technology user seeing results. After beginning to use CareInsights technology, Bayou’s branch in Houma, Louisiana reduced their rehospitalizations by 27 percent over a three-month period. Both MSA and Bayou are also leveraging WellSky’s CareInsights analytics to succeed under home health’s newest reimbursement model, the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM).

“We knew we needed this technology to grow and provide quality patient care under the new payment guidelines,” said Donald Lirette, RN, executive director and owner of Bayou Home Care. “It’s a critical tool for managing our patients under PDGM. It’s really given us the ability to grow and survive in today’s healthcare landscape. I don’t know how we could’ve done it without CareInsights.”

With new insights on their side, the nearly 600 clinical sites using WellSky Home Health CareInsights analytics are better positioned to proactively ensure their patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right care setting. CareInsights analytics tools are part of WellSky’s ongoing effort to equip its clients across the continuum with the information they need to provide the most appropriate, compassionate care.

“For home health providers, delivering intelligent, individualized patient care starts with data-driven insights,” said Wes Little, chief analytics officer for WellSky. “WellSky Home Health CareInsights brings powerful, actionable data directly to clinicians at the point of care, empowering them to make the best care decisions with their patients. Above all, it’s our goal to build the solutions our clients need to elevate patient care.”

To learn more about WellSky Home Health CareInsights technology, visit WellSky’s website here.

About Medical Services of America

Medical Services of America (MSA) began with a unique concept, “Total Home Healthcare,” and the company’s expansion has been guided by that concept. Every area of service is managed and staffed by qualified professionals, trained and experienced in their respective fields. All offices are company-owned, not franchised, to ensure the highest quality of home care available. MSA is based in Lexington, S.C. with a national scope that provides home care services throughout 13 states. Even with a widespread presence, MSA still has a local, small town appeal. MSA offers one of the most comprehensive networks available to patients needing health care in the home environment. This includes home health, hospice, home medical equipment and supplies, diabetic supplies, respiratory services, mail order supplies, senior/assisted living, full-service pharmacy, physician practice management, billing and printing services. For more information, visit MSA-Corp.com.

About Bayou Home Care

Founded in 2003 by two Registered Nurses, Bayou Home Care is a full-service home healthcare company with 6 locations throughout Southeast Louisiana. Bayou is a licensed Medicare/Medicaid provider and are in network with most of the largest insurance companies in Louisiana. Bayou specializes in home healthcare services that include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, certified nursing assistant, medical social worker, wound care and transitional care liaison services. Recognized as an “Elite Agency” by OCS HomeCare and Decision Health, Bayou is dedicated to its purpose of providing the utmost quality services. Bayou Home Care recently partnered with Capital Alignment Partners to execute on a home health and hospice consolidation strategy in the Southeastern markets. For more information, visit BayouHomeCare.com.

About WellSky^®

WellSky is a technology company advancing human wellness worldwide. Our software and professional services address the continuum of health and social care — helping businesses, organizations, and communities solve tough challenges, improve collaboration for growth, and achieve better outcomes through predictive insights that only WellSky solutions can provide. WellSky is leading the movement for smarter, whole-person care with a visionary approach that addresses individuals’ unique health and social circumstances. A portfolio company of TPG Capital, WellSky serves more than 14,000 client sites around the world — including the largest hospital systems, blood banks and labs, home health and hospice franchises, government agencies, and human services organizations. Informed by 40 years of providing software and expertise, WellSky anticipates providers’ needs and innovates relentlessly to help people thrive. Our purpose is to empower care heroes with technology for good, so that together, we can realize care’s potential and maintain a healthy, flourishing world. For more information, visit WellSky.com.