Health Care Innovation Awards: University of Tennessee Health Science Center Project Profile

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER  

Project Title: "Project SAFEMED"
Geographic Reach: Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee
Funding Amount: $2,977,865
Estimated 3-Year Savings: $3,160,844

Summary

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, in partnership with Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare's Methodist North Hospital and Methodist South Hospital and community partners received an award to improve care transitions with an emphasis on medication management among high repeat utilizing patients in the northwest and southwest sections of Memphis, TN. The program will serve vulnerable adults (20-64) and seniors 65+ insured by Medicaid and/or Medicare who have multiple chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic lung disease with presence of polypharmacy or high risk medications. Through multidisciplinary teams encompassing pharmacy, nursing, and social work based in outpatient centers, the program will enhance discharge planning, improve post-discharge outreach and follow-up, increase access to community based services and coordinate care across providers and settings. In addition, pharmacy technicians and licensed practical nurses will serve as outreach workers engaging patients through home visits, intense phone follow up, and group based support sessions. This approach will improve medication adherence to safe and effective medication regimens, overall chronic disease self-management, health services utilization patterns, and patient experience of care. Over a three-year period, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's program will develop 5 new roles for direct care staff and create 11 jobs in the healthcare field.

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