Pender Memorial Hospital, Burgaw, North Carolina

In conjunction with New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), Pender Memorial Hospital (PMH), located in Burgaw, North Carolina, successfully implemented the Transitions in Care program. The program is run by the hospital-owned and operated home care agency and provides telehealth for congestive heart failure patients to assist patients with self-managing cardiac disease, reducing readmissions and encouraging independent living for seniors.

Positive Outcomes:

• Successfully implemented a telehealth program as part of an accountable care organization (ACO).
• Telehealth program patients’ 30-day readmission rate was half the rate of patients not participating in the telehealth program.
• Asked to submit a grant to expand the program to an additional 300 patients.

Top Accomplishments:

PMH was awarded the certificate based on their innovative use of telehealth in care transitions and discharge planning to reduce the readmissions rate for congestive heart failure patients in an isolated rural area of the state. Upon receipt of the award, PMH President, Ruth Glaser, stated, “Our organizational goal is to provide patients with quality care in the most efficient manner, and to provide the essential resources to our community members who often lack the resources and live far from medical care.”