What is CareAlign? CareAlign is a healthcare management software solution that offers two distinct components: a patient communication solution, CareAlign Exchange, and a data intelligence platform, CareAlign Insight. CareAlign Exchange lets health care professionals collaborate with each other in real time to share important patient information. CareAlign Insight uses data intelligence to send alerts to health care professionals when patients may be at risk for high risk.
Creating a holistic patient profile
The Mayo Clinic’s Center for Innovation recently completed a research project on how to create a holistic patient profile. This type of patient profile is layered, with different levels of patient values. The layers help paint a complete picture of the patient, and differences between them can highlight gaps in the care the patient receives. This type of holistic patient profile can help healthcare providers identify the best ways to approach each patient.
Problem-based care plans
With the problem-based care plan feature in CareAlign, clinicians can check if tasks are complete and build a care plan around it. The progress note tool enables clinicians to capture more diagnoses and reduce administrative work. It can be imported into the EHR as an electronic note or placed in a paper chart. Problem-based care plans at CareAlign are an excellent way for clinicians to spend more time with their patients.
The most effective care plans will involve the patient and clinician working together to define priorities. This will increase adherence to prescribed care and decrease treatment burden for the patient. It should be tailored to the patient’s preferences and context. Care plans should also be tailored to the patient’s individual needs. Problem-based care plans should be individualized to the patient. If a care plan includes a list of goals, it should encourage priority setting and review of the patient’s health status regularly.
RAF scores
Care Align RAF scores are a valuable indicator of an organization’s performance. These scores are based on a number of factors, such as the patient’s demographics and medical history, and they predict how much a particular patient’s care will cost. An above-average RAF score results in increased reimbursement. Likewise, a low RAF score means low reimbursement. By assessing the quality of care provided, Care Align helps identify high-value encounters for organizations to increase their productivity.
Using health tech to manage workloads is one way to improve RAF scores. The care orchestration platform offered by CareAlign helped Crozer Keystone Medical Group ACO increase its RAF scores by 18%. This translates to increased reimbursement for the ACO. In addition, Crozer Keystone Medical Group ACO clinicians increased their RAF scores by 20%, which translates to $460 more per patient. For many providers, incorporating Care Align into their revenue cycle management processes is a great way to improve their RAF scores.
Using HCC coding to accurately assign RAF scores is an important step toward improving the accuracy of healthcare reimbursements. Accurate coding improves care outcomes for the patient. Additionally, accurate coding increases revenue cycle management. Improper coding can lead to loss or reduced CMS budget allocations. Ultimately, everyone wins when care is accurate and timely. With these two factors in mind, it is clear that Care Align RAF scores can help improve the quality of care for both patients and practitioners.
The RAF score is an objective measure of patient complexity. CMS uses RAF scores to adjust payments based on clinical complexity. It also helps physicians maximize their reimbursements. These scores are important indicators for a hospital’s contracted payment rates with various payers. For example, if a patient has cancer, their RAF healthcare score will not increase. The patient’s RAF score is based exclusively on the RAF score for metastatic breast cancer.
Task lists
Managing tasks in CareAlign has never been easier. CareAlign’s digital workspace enables clinicians to update dynamic care plans. Task lists are shared, and up-to-date vitals and labs are readily available. Using the Note Writer, clinicians can easily capture and reuse shared patient information without double documenting. Moreover, CareAlign supports evidence-based handoff frameworks, which ensures that information is shared between caregivers and providers at the time of transfer of care.
The complete picture of the patient is the foundation for providing the best possible care. Without access to vital patient data, it can take hours to provide care. In addition, faxing between health care providers can add hours to the process. Delays in critical information increase the risk of preventable errors. To help clinicians improve workflow and reduce medical errors, CareAlign partners with the HIE-powered MarketStreet platform. Together, these two tools provide a single, intuitive workspace, shared task lists, and a comprehensive note writer. Because the technology is powered by HIE data, CareAlign and MarketStreet provide a complete picture of the patient in real time.
The integrated Patient Wiki allows clinicians to collaborate on a shared problem-based care plan. Clinicians can add problems as they go, and update tasks as they progress through their shift. With CareAlign’s Patient Wiki, clinicians can update their care plans in real time. Using this tool, clinicians can also update their care plans while on the go. With the care plan available anywhere, the CareAlign team can collaborate on care plans.
Collaboration
In value-based care, interdisciplinary clinical teams must work collaboratively to improve patient outcomes. CareAlign collaborates teams with shared dynamic task lists that ensure care gaps are closed, and reduces errors by surfacing critical patient data. With just a few clicks, clinicians can access labs, vitals, and other important patient data. With CareAlign, collaboration and evidence-based practices are streamlined and improved, ultimately resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced readmissions.
The success of a collaborative relationship depends on how well both payers and providers work together. Vertical integration is often characterized by a large payer’s majority stake in a primary care practice. This type of partnership gives payers significant influence over care decisions, but it is not necessary for collaboration to succeed. Providers and payers can share common tools and tactics, which can lead to more effective collaboration. However, vertical integration will not guarantee success.
By creating a “think space” for team members, practitioners can effectively share information and hold each other accountable for improving health outcomes. With this, care providers can plan collaborative activities with low burden and high impact. Ultimately, collaborative patient care can improve patient satisfaction, reduce costs, improve outcomes, and create better communities for everyone. If collaboration is the goal of a health system, it can help make all the difference in the world. There are many benefits of Care Align.
Coordination, on the other hand, involves communicating about a patient’s care plan. While collaboration involves patient-centered team-based thinking, each clinician involved in the care process must contribute knowledge about the patient and their circumstances, which will guide their collective decision-making. As with a wedding, there are many details to consider and decisions to be made. Care Align collaboration enables physicians to focus on their patients instead of juggling several tasks.
