Articles and Information from GA Foods

Medically-Tailored Meals May Help Health Plans to Reduce Costs

Posted by John Siegel on Jun 25, 2020 11:15:00 AM

 

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Topics: Home Delivered Meals, Heart Disease, Healthcare Cost Reduction, Food Insecurity, Older Adults, Medicare Advantage

Reducing Hospital Readmissions with Nutrition

Posted by John Siegel on Apr 18, 2019 10:37:00 AM

 

 

With a total annual cost of disease-associated malnutrition in the U.S. totaling more than $147 billion, it is perhaps perplexing and troubling that nutrition still remains poorly misunderstood by healthcare providers, administrators and payers alike. But mistaken or not, over the past few years, one thing is certain: Reducing hospital readmissions is at the forefront of healthcare organizations across the country.

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Topics: Healthcare Cost Reduction, Post Discharge

Is Your Transitional Care Plan Missing an Important Piece?

Posted by Mary O'Hara on Oct 4, 2018 3:03:52 PM

While your patients are in your care, you provide them with quality nutrition care. But, what happens when they go home? 

Many transitional care plans may be missing an important piece – nutrition care. Providing access to food allows the frail and elderly to regain their strength and energy faster. Proper nutrition for those at risk improves patient outcomes following surgery or hospitalization.

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Topics: Malnutrition in Elderly, Home Delivered Meals, Healthcare Cost Reduction, Healthy Meals for Seniors, Post Discharge

Improving the Patient Experience by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health

Posted by Mary O'Hara on Sep 5, 2018 10:44:38 AM


Addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) is increasingly important to hospitals and healthcare systems. In fact, medical care determines only 20 percent of overall health -- while social, economic, and environmental factors determine 50 percent of overall health. Extending ways to help patients stay healthy outside the hospital can help patients, communities, and hospitals. SDOH include all factors outside of the hospital that affects patients, such as:

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Topics: Home Delivered Meals, Senior Health, Healthcare Cost Reduction, Healthy Home Delivered Meals, Post Discharge

Help Your Patients to Recover Faster At Home

Posted by Mary O'Hara on Aug 8, 2018 12:56:00 PM

Hospitals face many challenges when patients are discharged. Some concerns include if patients understand their care plan and need for follow up appointments. Will your patients have access to healthy meals when they return home? What if they are unable to shop or prepare meals for themselves? 

When patients go into the hospital, one thing they may not expect is to leave malnourished. But, that is what occurs to one-third of patients admitted to hospitals. Malnutrition is not always recognized and often goes untreated during hospitalization. Weight loss and inadequate nutritional intake can delay the healing and recovery process. This may lead to more challenging recoveries, and in many cases, relapse and readmission.

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Topics: Malnutrition in Elderly, Home Delivered Meals, Healthcare Cost Reduction, Healthy Meals for Seniors, Post Discharge

Telemedicine Benefits For Case Managers and Members

Posted by Mary O'Hara on Jun 27, 2018 11:04:55 AM

Case managers are often on the front lines of telemedicine. They have the expertise to provide help to their members, or patients, on managing chronic conditions or treating minor illnesses by phone or virtual online visits. 

Telemedicine, or telehealth, is proven to be a cost-effective alternative to traditional doctor office visits. There are various studies that find telemedicine can help lower hospital readmissions and reduce healthcare costs. 

An increasing number of health plans across the U.S. are expanding their benefits to include telemedicine services for their members. Plans like Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare are examples of those offering these services. In fact, 76 percent of health systems have or will be implementing consumer telehealth in some capacity by December 2018.

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Topics: Healthcare Cost Reduction, Healthcare Research, Care Managers

How Good Nutrition Care Can Reduce Hospital Admissions

Posted by Mary O'Hara on Jun 13, 2018 11:10:12 AM

Nutrition Care Can Reduce Hospital Admissions

Health care professionals are always looking for better ways to keep members out of the hospital and to reduce their length of stay. Yet, the role of nutrition remains poorly understood by providers, administrators, and payers. One of the leading causes for readmission to the hospital is malnutrition. 

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Topics: Home Delivered Meals, MCO ROI, Healthcare Cost Reduction, Healthy Home Delivered Meals, Healthy Meals for Seniors

How a Positive Attitude Benefits the Aging Process

Posted by Mary O'Hara on May 2, 2018 10:32:00 AM

Adopting a positive attitude can go far in dealing with the changes associated with aging. In fact, according to Kaiser Health News, those who have a positive outlook on aging live 7.5 years longer. Studies show that older adults who hold negative stereotypes about aging tend to walk more slowly, experience memory problems, and recover less fully from a fall or fracture.

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Topics: Home Delivered Meals, Senior Health, Healthcare Cost Reduction, Medicare, Nutrition Care, Healthy Meals for Seniors, aging in place

Does Your Patient's Health Plan Offer Post-Discharge Meals?

Posted by Mary O'Hara on May 17, 2017 11:50:33 AM

Case managers and discharge planners have many things to consider before their patients return home after a hospitalization.  You may not be aware that some healthcare plans now offer nutrition care benefits for post-discharge patients.

Benefits of Nutrition Care

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Topics: Healthcare Cost Reduction, Medicare, Post Discharge, Care Managers

Can Post-Discharge Meals Improve Patient Outcomes?

Posted by Mary O'Hara on Apr 5, 2017 11:00:00 AM

When patients go into the hospital, one thing they may not expect is to leave malnourished. But, that is exactly what occurs to one-third of patients admitted to hospitals. Malnutrition is not always recognized and often goes untreated during hospitalization. Weight loss and poor nutritional intake can delay the healing and recovery process. This may lead to more challenging recoveries, and in many cases, relaspse and readmission.

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Topics: Malnutrition in Elderly, Home Delivered Meals, Healthcare Cost Reduction, Healthy Meals for Seniors, Post Discharge

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