Rural Health System Cuts Readmissions by 30% Through MyOutDesk Virtual Care

Who we worked with on the challenge

A rural health system serving a vast, sparsely populated region in the Midwest, was facing a crisis. With a service area spanning over 20,000 square miles and a population of just 200,000, the system was struggling to provide comprehensive care to its far-flung patients.

The challenges were manifold: a severe shortage of specialists, high staff turnover rates, and limited resources for managing chronic conditions effectively.

What the client needed

The system’s Chief Medical Officer, was particularly concerned about the high rates of hospital readmissions and the poor management of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. He stated:

“Our patients were traveling hours for specialist consultations, only to return home without adequate follow-up care. We were stuck in a reactive cycle, dealing with complications rather than preventing them,”

How MyOutDesk helped

Recognizing the need for a radical change, the provider partnered with MyOutDesk’s Healthcare Admin Support to implement a virtual care model. The implementation was carefully designed to address the unique challenges of rural healthcare delivery.

The cornerstone of the new model was MyOutDesk’s virtual specialist consultation program. Heartland set up high-definition video conferencing systems in all its rural clinics, connecting patients with a network of specialists based in urban centers.
These virtual consultations covered a range of specialties including cardiology, endocrinology, and neurology. Patients could now receive expert care without the burden of long-distance travel.

To address the challenge of chronic disease management, the provider implemented a remote patient monitoring system.

Patients with conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and congestive heart failure were provided with user-friendly devices to monitor their vital signs at home.
This data was transmitted securely to a team of MyOutdesk’s virtual care coordinators who monitored trends and alerted local providers to any concerning changes.

MyOutDesk’s virtual care coordinators also played a crucial role in patient education and support. They conducted regular check-ins with patients, provided personalized education on disease management, and helped coordinate care between different providers. This continuous support was particularly valuable for elderly patients and those with limited health literacy.

Results

The results of MyOutDesk’s virtual care model were striking. Within 18 months of implementation, the provider saw a 30% decrease in hospital readmissions for chronic conditions. The remote monitoring and proactive interventions allowed many issues to be addressed before they escalated to the point of requiring hospitalization.

Patient travel time for specialty consultations was reduced by 40%, a significant quality of life improvement for many rural residents. This increased access to specialist care contributed to a 50% improvement in chronic disease management metrics, including better HbA1c control for diabetics and improved blood pressure control for hypertensive patients.

Perhaps most impressively, the client was able to increase its patient volume by 25% without a corresponding increase in physical infrastructure. The virtual care model allowed the system to efficiently manage a larger patient population, improving access to care across the region.

The Chief Medical Officer reflected on the transformation:

“Virtual care has allowed us to transcend the geographic limitations that have long plagued rural healthcare. We’re now able to provide our patients with care that rivals any urban center, right in their own communities.”

This Rural Health System’s case study demonstrates how MyOutDesk’s virtual teams paired with telehealth technologies can be leveraged to overcome the unique challenges of rural healthcare delivery, significantly improving access to care, patient outcomes, and operational efficiency.

Rural Health System Cuts Readmissions by 30% Through MyOutDesk Virtual Care

Who we worked with on the challenge

What the client needed

How MyOutDesk helped

Results

25%

patient volume increase with virtual care

40%

travel time reduction for patients