New Chronic Care Management Program Helps Manage all Medical Cares with One Call
The Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic is now offering a Chronic Care Management (CCM) program that helps Medicare patients with two or more chronic conditions coordinate ALL of their health care services. The program eases the worries of managing appointments with providers, prescription refills, and other health care services, while answering all questions and concerns in a timely manner. This program proves beneficial in helping chronic patients remain independent and alleviating the emergency room visits and hospital stays that often go along with those conditions.
To qualify for the CCM program, patients must be eligible for Medicare and have two or more chronic conditions including, but not limited to, the following: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), asthma, atrial fibrillation, autism, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, COPD, depression, diabetes, glaucoma, HIV and AIDS, hypertension (high blood pressure) and substance use disorders. These services are covered through Medicare and supplemental plans.
Patient Navigator, Kim Waters, works with all patients who qualify for these services, calling them at least once per month to review their care, manage prescription refills and answer any questions they may have.
“I feel one of the benefits of this program is to have ONE person to call to answer all of their questions,” explains Waters. “I work with patients to help them navigate their health care needs and develop goals to improve their health. Our program is especially helpful to those living alone and responsible for their own health care. I help them schedule appointments with different providers, remind them of their appointments and assist with communicating their needs or questions with their primary care provider. I can find the patients other home-based services to help them stay safely in their home.”
Again the main benefit of this program is having just one person, Navigator Kim Waters, available with one call to manage a patient’s care. Other benefits of the new CCM program include reducing hospitalizations and emergency room visits, development of a Plan of Care and support to achieve their health goals, prompt sharing of health information with the patient’s personal care provider whenever needed, and monthly check-in’s and follow-ups by Waters personally, to everyone enrolled in the program.
“Please reach out to me if you have any questions regarding this program or to refer a loved one,” adds Waters. “Most contact with patients will be by phone, but questions can also be sent through My Chart. If you prefer to visit in person, that is always a welcome option as well. I look forward to working with you to achieve your health goals.”
For more information about the Chronic Care Management Program at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic, please call Kim Waters, Patient Navigator, at 563-568-5530.
