Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Community Collaborations

Elizabethtown (N.Y.) Community Hospital's care transition program successfully reduced all-cause hospital readmission from 10 percent in 2012 to 4 percent in 2013 to 3.5 percent in 2014. This 25-bed critical access hospital coordinated care across the continuum and created a committee with 21 service agencies in five neighboring counties to help provide support services to discharged patients. It recently received the Healthcare Association of New York State’s Pinnacle Award for Quality and Patient Safety for its efforts.

This case study is part of the NYS Triple Aim series highlighting how New York hospitals are improving health, enhancing quality and reducing costs. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home care agencies across New York State are pursuing the Triple Aim. In spite of fiscal constraints, its members are embracing the challenge of transforming health care and are implementing new and innovative approaches to delivery.