NEWS RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
JENNIFER GUSTAFSON
(712) 336-8799 (W)
(712) 339-5754 (C)
JENNIFER.GUSTAFSON@LAKESHEALTH.ORG
LAKES REGIONAL HEALTHCARE OFFERING
TRANSITION OF CARE PROGRAM
Program improves care coordination and outcomes and lowers hospital readmission rates
SPIRIT LAKE – September 26, 2014
Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) is dedicated to improving the quality of care provided to patients. One way
they’ve achieved that is by reducing hospital readmission rates from 32.65 percent to 2.7 percent since January
2012. A readmission is when a patient who had recently been hospitalized needs to return to the hospital within
30 days of their discharge. LRH Home Care’s new Transition of Care program, to begin October 1, 2014, is
another step toward even further reduced readmissions.
When a patient with a qualifying chronic health condition or a person at a high risk for a readmission is
discharged from LRH, one of their options may be enrollment in the Transition of Care program. LRH has also
partnered with Avera McKennan Hospital and the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for
patients who are discharged from either facility with a chronic health condition back to the lakes area, providing
an opportunity to be enrolled in the Transitions of Care program from Avera. Both the Avera and LRH
Transition of Care programs will be provided by home care staff at LRH. Enrolled patients of both programs
will receive specialized patient education for their condition, a Transition of Care visit at home to assess needs
and assist with medications, and weekly post-discharge phone calls for 30 days.
LRH Director of Home Care and Hospice Missy Hilgendorf said, “Our hope is to keep patients well, so they
don’t need to return to the hospital. Education is the largest component of this program. Lakes Regional
Healthcare is proud to be able to offer this education to patients to ensure they feel in control of their health
condition.”
Patients will receive information about their condition, warning signs to be watchful of, and a 24 hour contact
line in case they have questions. People who are at a high risk for a readmission to the hospital or who have a
chronic illness such as heart failure (CHF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be enrolled in
the program. Those with questions can contact LRH Home Care or call Hilgendorf at 712-336-8709.
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