By identifying changes in functional status, which lead to decline among the elderly population who have various chronic illnesses, healthcare organizations can intervene to prevent emergency room visits and hospital inpatient stays.
Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP), along with the Fallon Clinic are not only reducing healthcare utilization through this strategy, but also maintaining optimal function and preventing or delaying further decline for these patients and reporting a healthy return on investment on program costs.
Listen to pre-conference comments from Susan Legacy.
During Identifying Functional Decline in Chronic Care Patients To Reduce Preventable Healthcare Utilization, a 45-minute webinar on April 27, 2011, now available as a training DVD, via On Demand Web access or as a CD-ROM, youll hear from Patricia Zinkus, director of case management, and Susan Legacy, senior manager of case management at FCHP on how they identify Medicare Advantage members at risk of high utilization, the strategies theyve implemented to reduce this utilization and the outcomes and cost savings achieved by FCHP.
You'll learn:
- The key identifiers of frail elderly patients at high risk of preventable healthcare utilization;
- The critical components of the FCHP "Home Run Program" that keeps these patients in their home and improves their functional living status;
- The collaborative, risk-sharing model for the program that includes the health plan, Fallon Community Health Clinic and a local VNA that creates a multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of the patient; and
- The program's impact on patient satisfaction, emergency room use, hospital and skilled nursing facility admissions and readmissions and cost savings.
Have questions on our webinar and/or webinar formats? Visit our webinar FAQ.
You can listen to this program right in your office and enjoy significant savings no travel time or hassle; no hotel expenses. Its so convenient! Invite your staff members to gather around a conference table to listen to the DVD, CD or the On Demand version.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS CONFERENCE?
CEOs, medical directors, physician practice leaders, quality improvement executives, business development and strategic planning directors and consultants.
ABOUT OUR PANELIST:
Patricia Zinkus
|  |
|
Patricia Zinkus, R. N., is the director of case management for Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP) and is
responsible for directing all case management programs for FCHPs commercial and Medicare Advantage plans to ensure
members receive high-quality, cost-effective care. In addition, Zinkus is responsible for measuring and reporting on program
milestones related to clinical and financial outcomes, as well as guiding strategy, policies and protocols that are consistent with
the companys objectives.
Zinkus has experience in both the public and private sector and was employed with Public Sector Partners, Inc., a
consulting and service delivery organization, where she held the role of director of revenue operations. In this position, she
oversaw multiple programs that included Medicare Part D Claims Coordination, Medicare Appeals for Home Health Services,
Medicaid and Medicare Third Party Billing Services, as well as a public Outreach and Educational Program. Prior to her work at
Public Sector Partners, she was employed at United Health Groups Massachusetts site for 18 years where she oversaw
multiple care coordination programs.
Zinkus is a certified case manager and is also on the board of directors and a corporator for Childrens Friend, Inc. in
Worcester, Mass.
Zinkus is a graduate of St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing and completed undergraduate courses from Assumption
College, Worcester, Mass.
Susan Legacy
| | Functional decline in an elderly person can be the first sign of a chronic condition snowballing out of control.
|
Susan Legacy, R. N., is the senior manager of Fallon Community Health Plans (FCHP) case management
department and is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of case management activity for the commercial and Medicare
Advantage Plan members. She is also for responsible for the implementation of new programs within the case management
department.
Legacy has held the positions of diabetic disease manager and team leader for the disease management department at
FCHP. Legacys previous roles included maternal child health medicine including the initial development of Fallon Clinics
infertility program and working in a multidisciplinary adolescent clinic.
Legacy is a graduate of Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing and completed undergraduate courses from Worcester
(Mass.) State University.
