Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Four Seasons to Receive $9.5 million to Pilot Medicare Reform through Innovative Community Palliative Care Model


Improved outcomes, increased quality of care and decreased hospital readmissions decrease costs for patients and families during serious illness or at end of life, while reducing tolls on Medicare
FLAT ROCK, N.C. – Four Seasons Compassion for Life today was notified they are the prospective recipients of a $9,596,123 grant award from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, a program of the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The non-profit agency emerges as the sole hospice and palliative care provider nationwide chosen to implement health care reform over a three year period through its innovative community care model designed to deliver better care outcomes and lower costs.
An award-winning, hospice and palliative care industry leader, Four Seasons maintains a consistent track record of reducing costs while improving patient outcomes during serious, life limiting illness. In conjunction with its collaborative partner, Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley, Newton, Four Seasons will test a new model for community-based palliative care across the continuum of care spanning in-patient and outpatient settings.
The Four Seasons community palliative care model (CPC) removes barriers to patient care due to location, socio-economics, ethnicity or minority status, and fragility of medical condition. The model features interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of palliative care into the health care system, continuity of care across transitions, and longitudinal, individualized support for patients and families – with the ultimate goals of increased quality of care and decreased hospital readmissions.
An estimated 8,000 Medicare beneficiaries and their families will receive integrated health services in western North Carolina through the project. Of these, 78 percent will receive care through Four Seasons, and 22 percent will receive care through Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley.
Historically, the CPC model has been shown to improve outcomes for patients as well as the experiences of family and professional care providers, says Dot Moyer, chairman of the Four Seasons Board of Directors.
“Four Seasons is being given an opportunity to prove the value of palliative care, and not only to the healthcare industry,” says Moyer. “The patients and families we serve report high satisfaction with their care experiences. Now the high quality of care for which we’re known will become increasingly valued and more widely available, not only in western North Carolina, but nationwide.”
Clinical and financial results of the project will be monitored through partnership with Duke University. The findings will translate into potential finance models to assist Medicare beneficiaries who struggle with advanced, life-limiting illnesses. The data generated will also provide national benchmarks for other palliative care organizations to improve patient outcomes.
The awarded project, formally titled “Increasing Patient and System Value with Community-based Palliative Care,” results from a community-academic partnership between lead investigators Janet Bull, M.D., chief medical officer with Four Seasons, Don Taylor, Ph.D., of the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy, and Amy Abernethy, M.D., of the Duke Center for Learning Health Care and the Duke University Medical Center. This project is the latest in a long line of productive collaborations between Four Seasons and Duke University that Bull and Abernethy began nearly a decade ago.
“Our goal is to translate this experience into a new palliative care financing approach to Medicare, one which is sustainable and replicable,” says Bull.
The implementation of the CPC model and the palliative care financing approach are expected to save the federal government more than $29 million in cost of care annually.
Current evidence demonstrates that palliative care yields overall cost savings for Medicare while improving outcomes, says Chris Comeaux, chief executive officer of Four Seasons.
 “The top 10 percent of Medicare beneficiaries account for over half of total program spending, and more than one-quarter of that spending is incurred during the last year of life,” he says. “The project is expected to directly reduce costs of care for patients with advanced or life limiting illness.”
The “Triple Aim” of higher quality, better service and lower costs are an achievement to which healthcare providers aspire. With its partners at Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley, Duke University, and other providers across western North Carolina, Four Seasons commits to making that aim a reality for the residents of its communities, says Comeaux.
About Four Seasons

Four Seasons Compassion for Life is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a dedicated team of health care professionals, social workers, spiritual care professionals and volunteers deeply committed to its mission of co-creating the care experience. Nationally known for its leadership in innovative, quality hospice and palliative care services, Four Seasons is a former Circle of Life award recipient from the American Medical Association. For more information, visit http://www.fourseasonscfl.org.

 

 

Thursday, July 11, 2013

My Four Seasons Story- Lorraine & Samara



“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation, and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” - Dean Koontz

Lorraine and Samara have experienced firsthand just how much joy and comfort animals can bring to our patients.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Future of Healthcare in America

On the show today: Dr. Amy Abernethy from Duke University discusses the future of healthcare in America.

Tune in today from 3-3:30: Tune in

Catch up on past episodes at HealthcareCafe.org






My Four Seasons Story- Wendy, part 2

A touching message from Wendy, who is both a Four Seasons employee and a caregiver.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, please call:
Local: (828) 692-6178 Toll Free: (866) 466-9734





Monday, July 1, 2013

Looking for something to do this holiday weekend?

The Stars, Stripes and Stangs event is being held at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville this weekend. For those who want to come and check out the hundreds of Mustangs on display, the show is free and open to the public Saturday from 9am-5pm and Sunday from 9am-2 pm.

Proceeds of this event will benefit Four Seasons, Animal Compassion Network and the Juvenile Diabetes Association.
More info: http://brmcoa.org/2013national/

*Please note: The Blue Ridge Mustang Club of Asheville asks that you park in the northeast corner of the Sam's Club parking lot on Patton Avenue. There is no spectator parking available on resort grounds.*


Friday, June 28, 2013

My Four Seasons Story- Lynda

Grieving takes time and is different for everyone. Lynda, a bereavement counselor, offers a guiding hand as family members face the loss of a loved one.

Bereavement services are available to anyone in our area- even those whose families have not used Four Seasons' hospice or palliative care.
Call the Bereavement Department at 828-692-6178 for more information.


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Spotlight Carolina: Pet Therapy

 Did you miss Marche and Drake on Spotlight Carolina last week?
Watch the video here: Spotlight Carolina: Pet Therapy

For more info on our Pet Therapy program, call the Volunteer Department at 828-692-6178.