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

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

• Promotes faster, more complete recoveries
• Reduces risks of complications
• Reduces hospital readmissions
• Provides crucial support to patients with poor access to healthy foods
• Increases overall health and quality of life
• Decreases odds of further hospitalizations due to injury
• Enhances management of chronic disease

After discharge, patients experience symptoms such as decreased energy, pain, weakness, poor appetite and health-related dietary restrictions. These symptoms can make preparing nutritious meals difficult. Home-delivered meals allow patients to have nutritious easy-to-prepare meals and remain independent in their homes.

Reduce Readmission Rates

A recent study shows low food security has a big impact on hospital readmissions. The study indicates the cause of food security for post-discharge patients includes:

• 75 percent were unable to shop for food on their own
• 58 percent were unable to prepare their own food
• 30 percent were low or very low food secure
• 25 percent were marginally food secure

Discharge Planning

Many transitional care plans are missing an important component – 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 a hospitalization. Studies show nutrition assistance with home-delivered meals can reduce the occurrence of falls in the frail and elderly by up to 60 percent.

Many health plans are adding home-delivered meals for seniors to the supplemental benefits.

Post-Discharge meals can help in several ways:

• Improve patient's long-term health
• Impact patient's short-term recovery
• Maximize patient outcomes
• Reduce costs

For more information, download our whitepaper, Transitional Care: is Your Model Missing a Key Component?