A video about University of Utah Health's Transitions Program was named one of five winners about innovative programs that reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations through better care transitions, and can now be seen online as a winner of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJF) "Transitions to Better Care" video contest.
Patients, families, nurses, care coordinators, and other front-line health care providers were invited to submit videos telling their stories of how they help patients make successful transitions out of the hospital. More than 100 videos were submitted showcasing innovative, patient-centered approaches at transition points in care. The contest was part of Care About Your Care, a month-long effort sponsored by RWJF to focus attention on the national problem of people returning to the hospital soon after they are discharged.
Almost one in five elderly patients released from a hospital is back within 30 days and more than a third are back within 90 days. Many of these return visits could be avoided with better care transitions when a patient is discharged from the hospital.
"These videos provide examples of how hospitals, doctors, nurses and other providers across the country are developing innovative ways to improve care for patients," said Anne F. Weiss, team director and senior program officer at RWJF. "The contest winners, and all those who participated, should be proud of the important work they are doing to effectively coordinate care with their patients and other providers."
Submissions were evaluated on the quality of the story and method of ensuring safe transitions; potential for replication; and an element of engaging the patient in the hospital discharge process.