Horizon Family Medical Group (HFMG), a large network of ambulatory care providers in Orange County, New York, has been named a 2016 HIMSS Ambulatory Davies Award of Excellence recipient.
Horizon Family Medical Group features over 100 physicians and 40 locations, including 17 different specialties and 15 different primary care sites in the Hudson River Valley.
Since 1994, the HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award of Excellence has recognized outstanding achievement of organizations using health IT to substantially improve patient outcomes while achieving a return on investment. According to a HIMSS press release, Horizon Family Medical Group submitted three case studies demonstrating how they have leveraged health IT to improve patient and business outcomes.
HMFG reduced 30-day readmissions by 30 percent in a year. Their 30-day readmission rate of 10.5 percent is 50 percent below the national average. The medical group leveraged transition of care managers with a transition of care management tool built into the electronic health record (EHR) with the patient’s risk status assessed at the bedside. The care management tool provided standardized approaches for patient follow-up, appointment scheduling and care plan adherence monitoring.
High alcohol consumption has been reduced 18 percent for at-risk patients. HMFG leveraged clinical decision support and analytics-driven huddle reports to ensure high compliance with standardized care for drug and alcohol screening and weight management. (Huddle reports are frequent briefings among staff treating the patient to stay informed and provide care.)
Provider time with patients increased by 27 percent for scheduled 15-minute appointments allowing more direct patient counseling. Analytics-driven huddle reporting and EHR-enabled workflows improved provider efficiency, resulting in more time for patients with their providers.
“Building a culture where good business results follow good medicine, we remain committed and enthused about technology, quality care, and lowering costs,” Horizon Family Medical Group CEO James Olver said in a statement. “We are delighted to share our story about the impact each group can have in a sustainable model.”
“As an ambulatory care organization that has leveraged people process and technology to significantly reduce avoidable hospital readmissions, Horizon Family Medical group exemplifies how collaborative teamwork, effective planning and use of health IT can result in sustainable improvements in patient outcomes,” Jonathan French, senior director, health information systems, and the Davies Award program for HIMSS, said in a statement. “The Davies Committee and HIMSS congratulate the team members of Horizon Family Medical Group for earning the Davies Award and improving the health outcomes of the residents of the Hudson River Valley.”
Horizon Family Medical Group will be recognized at the 2017 HIMSS Conference & Exhibition, Feb. 19-23 in Orlando, Fla. For more information on applying for the HIMSS Davies Awards of Excellence, visit the HIMSS Davies Award website. The 2017 Davies Awards submission cycle will be open from Jan. 1 to July 1, 2017.
