Aided by a $9.6 million grant from the Robina Foundation, Abbott Northwestern Hospital plans to launch a new approach to end-of-life care for patients with Alzheimer's disease, stage III and stage IV cancer and heart failure.
Called the Late Life Supportive Care model, the program will provide an interdisciplinary team that includes a primary care provider, a supportive care nurse, a social worker/family counselor and other clinical experts available to patients around the clock. The care team will work directly with the patient and family members to make shared decisions with a focus on quality of life issues.
[See also: California project improves end-of-life care.]
The goal of the program, according to the hospital, is to bridge the gap between the way most Americans say they want to experience their later years and what actually happens once they enter the healthcare system.
"We hope this model of care will do two important things. First, it will proactively reach out to patients and families who could benefit. And second, it will let the person's own goals guide their care," said Eric Anderson, MD, medical director of Allina's Palliative Care Services in a press release. "We know the goals will be both medical and non-medical. Engaging the family and community around that individual will be key to meeting their non-medical goals."
Phase One will take place at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and two senior care facilities: Walker Methodist and Augustana Care. All are part of Allina Hospitals and Clinics a provider network serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina was one of 32 provider groups recently accepted into CMS' Pioneer ACO program.
See also: CMS taps 32 health systems for Pioneer ACO program.]
The study will focus on 400 to 500 patients aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's, stage III and IV cancer and heart failure who live in the Minneapolis and St. Paul. Patients, families and caregivers will have access to all medical information and care planning through Allina's electronic medical record, and MyChart, Allina's online tool that allows patients to access their medical records.
Allina staff will build the model of care in 2012 with plans to enroll the first patients in the program in January 2013.